FAQs for Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan (August 2017) More information Contact Sustainability Victoria on 1300 363 744 or at or go to What is the purpose of the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan (SWRRIP)? The Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan (SWRRIP), led by SV on behalf of the Victorian Government, provides Victoria with the long term vision and roadmap to guide future planning for waste and resource recovery infrastructure to achieve an integrated system that: effectively manages the expected mix and volumes of waste reflects the principles of environmental justice to ensure that impacts on the community, environment and public health are not disproportionately felt supports a viable resource recovery industry reduces the amount of valuable materials going to landfill. Why develop a SWRRIP? It is critical to plan for future waste and resource recovery infrastructure needs to ensure essential services are accessible to all members of the community and maintained with care for the environment. Victoria’s waste and resource recovery system provides services essential to the community to manage waste and material streams. They are as important as other essential infrastructure such as roads and those that supply water and electricity to maintain the functionality of Victoria. Victoria’s population is growing fast. Since 2000 the population has grown from 4.8 to 5.8 million. By 2046 we anticipate a population of 8.9 million. As a consequence, the amount of waste being generated and requiring management is also increasing. At the current rate of increase, by 2046 total waste generation will rise from 12.2 to 20.6 million tonnes per year. In 2015-16 over 8.6 million tonnes of valuable material was recovered from waste streams in Victoria, representing a 67% recovery rate, however 4.2 million tonnes were still sent to landfill. If not managed properly, the materials going to landfill can have a significant impact on communities and environment now and in the long term. They also contain valuable resources which, if recovered, would create jobs, add value to the Victorian economy and minimise potential adverse impacts to community, environment and public health. What are the goals of the SWRRIP? The SWRRIP strategic directions will guide decision making to ensure investment in the right infrastructure mix will achieve the four goals: Goal 1: Landfills will only be used for receiving and treating waste streams from which all materials that can be viably recovered have been extracted. Goal 2: Materials are made available to the resource recovery market through aggregation and
Lyndhurst Landfill, Taylors Road, Lyndhurst Ordish Road Precinct, South Dandenong Owens Illinois, Spotswood SKM Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), Coolaroo Veolia Organics facility, Bulla Citywide Resource Recovery Centre, Footscray Barwon South West Corangamite Landfill, Naroghid Gippsland Gippsland Water’s Soil and Organics Recycling Facility, Dutson Downs Goulburn Valley Western Composting, Shepparton Ellwaste Patho Landfill, Echuca Cosgrove Landfill, Shepparton Grampians Central West Statewide Landfill, Stawell Maddingley Brown Coal Landfill, Bacchus Marsh Loddon Mallee Eaglehawk Landfill, Bendigo Mildura Landfill, Mildura How does the community get involved in planning decisions particularly around the future of a hub? The future of these hubs will be determined through local government land use planning systems, strategic and regional growth plans and the development of the Regional Implementation Plans. The Regional Implementation Plans identify those hubs that are important at the local and regional level. Targeted consultation with surrounding communities and the waste and resource recovery industry on these hubs will take place. Strategic planning for both current and future hubs of state importance will be undertaken to ensure the community has access to all relevant information about the potential waste and resource recovery impacts of a hub. This will provide an opportunity to participate in decisions on priorities, and the future activities of that hub. It is important to note that landfills and recycling facilities will need to meet best practice requirements and will be subject to any relevant planning and building permits, and EPA licences and works approvals required to operate.