Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has issued a Dandenong South company a licence that permits it to recycle contaminated soil that could result in a significant reduction in waste going to Victorian landfills.
EPA Development Assessments Manager Tim Faragher said the Renex Group could now operate a state-of-the-art soil thermal treatment and recycling facility at its Ordish Road site.
“Under its EPA licence, Renex Group will be able to treat about 70,000 tonnes of contaminated soil per year and store up to 20,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and 22,000 litres of prescribed industrial waste liquids and convert it into re-useable material,” Mr Faragher said.
“Depending on the soil, after treatment it could be categorised as fill material and be used for any soil purpose such as in gardens, parks, landscaping or construction. The facility will use the liquid waste as an alternative fuel.”
Mr Faragher said granting the company an EPA licence would also reduce the amount of hazardous waste being disposed of at landfills making Victoria a leader in waste reduction.
“The company has produced technology that allows hydrocarbons to be removed from soil, which means many thousands of tonnes of contaminated soil can be put to good use, rather than buried in the ground,” Mr Faragher said.
Mr Faragher said that before its licence was issued, Renex Group had already gone through the EPA works approval process.
“A works approval is a document issued by EPA permitting, subject to certain conditions, the construction of a plant, the installation of equipment or the modification of a process,” Mr Faragher said.
“A works approval is required for industrial and waste management activities that have the potential for significant environmental impact.
“After numerous works and commissioning approvals, the facility in Dandenong South is now licensed to accept, store and treat this prescribed industrial waste."