Waste management is a critical environmental issue. As the global population rises, so do landfill levels and improved waste management solutions are vital to the sustainability of our environment.
Japanese and Europeans have a long history of implementing effective waste management solutions. In 2010, Japan-based Hitachi Zosen Corp. purchased 85-year-old Swiss company Von Roll Inova AG; a global leader in technology supply and turnkey delivery of waste-to-energy projects.
The resulting company, Hitachi Zosen Inova AG has installed over 570 turnkey plants for thermal and biological energy recovery. In 2015, the Australian branch of Hitachi Zosen Inova was established to meet the challenges of Australia’s rising landfill fees and ambitious recycling targets.
“As a leader in the global waste-to-energy market we are in a good position to educate people in Australia on the long-term benefits of investing in and constructing waste management facilities,” explained Marc Stammbach, managing director of Hitachi Zosen Inova (Australia).
Stammbach has been involved in developing, constructing and operating waste-to-energy plants around the world. The company recently signed an agreement with the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council ― a Perth-based government body, for the supply of waste to the East Rockingham Resource Recovery Facility for a minimum of 20 years.
The deal essentially diverts waste from reaching landfills and converts it into clean, renewable energy. The waste produces 29 megawatts of baseload electricity ― enough to power 36,000 homes.
“This pilot project is a steppingstone for our future projects across Australia,” said Stammbach. “In the long term, waste management solutions will shift toward waste treatment facilities and we look forward to sharing and implementing our industrial expertise.”