FAQs
Which factory contaminated the world with forever chemicals?
Forty years ago 3M, which produces many products that are used across the world, discovered PFOS in blood samples in blood banks all over America, but literally hid that knowledge for a further two decades. It was discovered in 2003 that the average Australian adult had levels of PFOS in their blood at 20 times the “safe level” secretly calculated by a scientist working for 3M.
What does ‘Greenwashing’ look like?
This Greens statement is on waste-to-energy incineration in Victoria, where there are four major proposals for waste incinerators. But it’s just as relevant for NSW. As is quite familiar to us, ‘thanks to industry lobbying and greenwash, many are convinced incinerators are the clean alternative to landfill, However the facts tell a different story’. Apart from the 2 plants in Rockingham and Kwinana in Western Australia, which are still not operating, it’s clear to RARVI that the intention of the industry is to establish them in many places in Australia as they have overseas. This is a national issue and must be fought on that basis as well as in NSW.
Click here to read the statement
What are pyrolysis and gasification?
Waste incineration is deeply unpopular with the public. This is evident in Australia, and from the long fight local residents in NSW have been involved in for years trying to prevent their location in their areas. Given this, rebranding incineration as pyrolysis and or gasification could be a handy way for industry and governments to ‘disguise’ what they mean. Although there aren’t any pyrolysis/chemical recycling plants in Australia producing new virgin plastics from pyrolysis chemical feedstock, it’s always best to be prepared. This article from Zero Waste points out the differences,
Are technological solutions like incineration a solution to our plastics crisis?
In this article GAIA labels as a common myth the idea that plastic pollution is only a problem of waste management whereas leakages from waste management systems in Global South countries are also problematic, as is the often asserted need for technological fixes such as waste-to-energy incineration and chemical processing of plastic waste.
Is Cleanaway’s claim that incineration is good for the climate true?
Cleanaway has no experience operating waste incinerators in Australia, but it claims its waste to energy project is good for the climate, but how true are these claims? This document says that ‘waste incineration entrenches a linear economy in our society that relies on the extraction of virgin materials and rewards consumptive and wasteful lifestyle choices’.
More FAQs
RARVI is often asked these questions about Waste to Energy, which new seems to be reffed to as Energy from Waste, which no doubt sounds less confronting. However it’s interesting to note that Richmond Valley Council specifically requested the Department of Regional NSW, which handles master plans for Regional Jobs Precincts to refer to incinerators as Alternative Waste Treatment Options. This sounds even less confronting than the two other names.
Why was only one waste solution investigated by the North Coast Waste Management Committee?
In June 2022 on behalf of 9 Councils that are part of the North Coast Waste Management Committee, Richmond Valley Council called for tenders for waste solutions. How many tenders and what type of systems these tenders were for is not publicly available. However, what is known is that the only system explored was that of Waste to Energy.
Click here to read the call for tenders
Does Energy from Waste ‘fit’ in a circular economy?
Whilst it seems as though several governments have adjust their circular economy strategies to include Energy from Waste, check this ‘myth busting fact sheet’ on NSW’s transition to a circular economy and what that means.
