Victoria state in Australia to take up anaerobic digestion

The Australian state of Victoria is investing AUS$300,000 (€188,145) in anaerobic digestion (AD) projects to keep organic waste out of landfill and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The funding will support local government and businesses to install small-scale on-site or precinct-scale AD technology for organics recovery and as an alternative energy source.

With the investment the state government hopes to overcome barriers to uptake of AD by supporting pilot projects that demonstrate the viability of organics recovery and processing, and which can easily be replicated.

Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville said the funding will “support businesses that produce organic waste onsite and have identified alternative technologies as a future opportunity.”

“This funding will support businesses that “These new technologies could reduce our reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil, resulting in a reduction in our emissions,” she said.

Victoria seeks to increase recovery and reprocessing of food waste, as in 2011-12, over 280,000 tonnes of food waste was generated by the commercial and industrial sectors with only 10% recycled.

AD also presents opportunities for economic development with the potential to create jobs and drive investment in Victoria’s waste and resource recovery industry.

“The use of recovered organic materials as a renewable energy source is an emerging opportunity that we are committed to exploring further. These new technologies present an exciting opportunity to grow sustainable jobs in Victoria,” said Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio.