Turning leftover food and grease into power

Western Water has unveiled its new recycling facility in Melbourne’s west that will recover resources from waste, cut greenhouse emissions and produce enough renewable energy to power the company’s recycled water plant.

The $3.3 million facility in Melton will treat up to 5000 kilolitres of liquid food waste each year — including leftover cooked meals, food scraps, fats, oils, old drinks and greases — from local businesses and convert it into biogas.

The facility, which was supported by an $800,000 state government grant, will generate up to 1000 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 900 tonnes annually.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said that it would be the equivalent of taking 300 cars off the road each year.

“Food scraps and organic waste make up almost a third of all the waste sent to landfill. This new facility makes use of that material and creates enough energy to power this recycled water plant.”

The biogas produced at the facility will be used to power the Melton Recycled Water Plant onsite, reducing reliance on the grid and cutting Western Water’s energy costs.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Victoria М