A review on alternative waste treatment technology for energy recovery in Australia

As the world’s population continues to rise, the impacts of municipal solid waste production become a serious environmental concern, both nationally and globally. Australia is one of the highest producers of domestic and commercial solid waste in the world, with over 14 million tonnes per year. There is also growing concerns in converting wastes into energy. Alternative Waste Technology (AWT) is designed to recover more energy resources from the waste stream while minimizing the impact on the environment. AWT has been classified into two broad categories: Thermal and Biological treatment. In Australia, only a few AWTs have been implemented and many are being under development. This paper explores available AWTs used for municipal solid waste management in Australia and makes comparisons among the AWTs in term of efficiency in energy recovery. Finally, the paper suggests suitable AWT(s) that can be beneficial to the waste managers, the people and the environment.