Startup ARC Ento Tech to launch Australia’s first commercial waste-to-resource plant as landfill capacity nears crisis point
Complete waste-to-resource startup, ARC Ento Tech, is set to build the nation’s first commercial waste-to-energy plant in NSW, a breakthrough initiative as Greater Sydney faces the alarming possibility of running out of landfill by 2030.
The state-of-the-art plant will aim to convert 85 percent of the waste within the Hawkesbury Waste Management Facility into valuable resources, setting a new benchmark in sustainable waste management.
The one-year trial will initially process and divert 20 tonnes of putrescible waste per day converting it into fertiliser – with the long-term goal of scaling the model across Australia and globally.
Other councils have shown an interest in ARC Ento Tech’s technology as they seek sustainable waste solutions that will help to prevent the rising costs for their communities associated with shrinking landfill, particularly amid an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
With ARC’s proprietary ARC Process™ technology, over 76 million tonnes of waste in Australia’s 1,100+ landfills – including 22.4 million tonnes in NSW – could be recovered and repurposed.
The process converts mixed waste into valuable commodities such as biofuel, high-grade coal, metallurgical coke, fertilisers, and livestock feed, offering a scalable, commercially viable circular economy model
Building the plant will demonstrate how ARC Ento Tech’s technology provides a scalable and commercial model to address the urgent waste problem facing Australia and the globe, according to ARC Ento Tech.
Adam McArdle, CEO of ARC Ento Tech, said, “With the impending disaster of Greater Sydney’s landfill space expecting to run out in five years, and with the federal government rhetoric on transitioning to a circular economy increasing, demand is growing for ARC Ento Tech’s state-of-the-art plant.
“Our partnership with Hawkesbury City Council is a crucial step in demonstrating that the waste ending up in landfills holds significant commercial value. With our ARC Process™ technology, we are not only reducing landfill dependency but also unlocking the potential of waste as a valuable resource.”
“This project provides solid proof that sustainable waste management is achievable and offers a scalable model that can be adapted by private and government stakeholders worldwide.”
Hawkesbury City Mayor Les Sheather said the trial was an innovative addition to Council’s efforts to reduce waste, to the benefit of all residents.
“All current predictions show Greater Sydney’s existing landfill capacity will run out by 2030, including the Hawkesbury facility. This is a huge problem for all Sydney councils, not just the Hawkesbury. This trial has the potential to extend the life of our landfill, giving our residents greater certainty around the ongoing provision of an affordable and sustainable waste service, but more than that, it has the potential to revolutionise how we manage waste across the country and I’m very proud that Council and our staff are leading the way. I look forward to the results of this trial and a positive path forward for our City’s waste management.”
