Waste and Resources

At our Wollert Resource Park, we accept a wide range of materials including putrescible and solid inert waste, asbestos, contaminated soil and waste for recycling including tyres, car batteries, metals and more. Our future vision includes advanced recovery processes, which helps turn waste into resources, supporting the circular economy and reducing environmental harm.

Resource recovery involves extracting valuable materials from waste and reprocessing them for reuse. This not only reduces the need for raw materials but also helps conserve energy and lower carbon emissions.

The extraction of landfill gas is an advanced recovery process, converting biogas created within the landfill from the breakdown of waste to renewable energy.

Leachate

Leachate is the contaminated liquid that is produced when water or other forms of precipitation meet waste in a landfill.

Leachate is treated onsite using a biological treatment involving activated sludge and introduction of oxygen through aerators.

The Wollert Leachate Treatment Plant is one of the few in Australia that operates a free-draining leachate system, treating and discharging approximately 30 megalitres of leachate annually. This system is more efficient and environmentally compliant compared to traditional methods.

Our Wollert leachate treatment plant

Cleanfill

Cleanfill is clean soil collected from large-scale developments such as housing and infrastructure projects (not green waste). This soil is often referred to as ‘fill’ or ‘cleanfill’ material and is not contaminated. This cleanfill can then be used to rehabilitate quarry voids and construct future landfill cells.

This process ensures that the site remains environmentally sustainable and compliant with EPA regulations.

Our Wollert cleanfill operation

Transfer Station

Our transfer station is an integral part of our waste management system.

Facilities such as this one divert some materials from landfill and ensure the safe management and handling of recovered materials and residual waste, including batteries, e-waste, tyres, cardboard, whitegoods, mattresses, waste oil, soft plastics and metals. Rubbish and recyclable materials disposed of at the transfer station are separated to ensure all valuable materials are recovered for new uses.

From Monday to Saturday, residents can dispose of both rubbish and recyclable materials to the transfer station.

Phytocaps

A landfill cell is a designated area within a landfill where waste is placed and contained. When a landfill cell has been filled to the approved height, the cell needs to be closed and capped with soil and vegetation.

Capping involves placing a cover over landfill waste to isolate and keep it in place. At Wollert, we utilise a phytocap (or Evapo-transpiration Cap) system, which includes 1300mm uncompacted cover soils and 200mm of quarry scalps.

The phytocap is then planted with native grasses, trees, and shrubs. These plants are hand selected to ensure optimal establishment. The phytocap is designed to prevent water ingress to landfill to minimise leachate generation and control fugitive gas emissions. Phytocaps help to rehabilitate the land and provide a natural habitat for native flora and fauna.

It took a five-year study to have the first phytocap approved by the Victorian Environment Protection Authority. This was later followed up by the Australian Alternative Cover Assessment Program (A-ACAP), to which the Wollert Landfill also participated.

Our Phytocap site