Future of waste disposal coming to Redfern area

Public housing tenants are enthusiastic about futuristic waste disposal to be introduced with the redevelopment of Redfern and Waterloo.

As part of ‘Sustainable Sydney 2030’ master plans are being developed for several green infrastructure technologies including advanced waste collection and treatment.

At REDWatchs monthly meeting Councils Director of City Planning and Regulatory Services Graham Jahn showed how waste treatment technologies could be utilised and benefit the area.

“We would like to see an underground vacuum pipe network that takes non-recyclable waste from buildings to receiving stations,” Mr Jahn said.

“These receiving stations have the ability to turn waste into biofuels and reduce the carbon emissions of the housing developments.”

Sydney City Council is advising the Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) to incorporate these master plans into the Built Environment Plan 2 (BEP2).

Councillor Irene Doutney, also present at the meeting said: “It is one of the best ideas from the Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan.”

As a public housing tenant herself Ms Doutney added: “I think it would have a very positive impact on the area.”

“There are European cities already using such underground waste systems, so why not Sydney.”

Sustainable Sydney 2030 states: “Waste could be treated as a fuel to run the City. Embracing and investing in the strategic management of the City’s waste stream will allow it to increase sustainability and be more responsible for its actions.”

According to the plan approximately 50 per cent of waste could be turned into fuels, reducing landfill by 100 000 tonne every year and reducing the City’s greenhouse gas emissions by 3 per cent.

The technology will also mean a significant decrease in garbage trucks and garbage bins on the street.

By Christian Meagher