A $16 million investment in Victoria is making available a new alternative for the recycling and treatment of contaminated soil and other hazardous waste that will help drive the circular economy.

EarthSure®, a joint venture between Veolia and Ventia, is a specially constructed facility fully licensed to accept a wide range of hazardous waste generated by civil, infrastructure and environmental rehabilitation projects in the industrial, commercial, manufacturing and government sectors.

Approved by the Victorian Environment Protection Authority, EarthSure® is located within the Taylors Road landfill site in Dandenong South. The facility is licensed to accept and treat categories A, B and C reportable priority wastes, including organic contaminants such as PFAS and hydrocarbons, as well as inorganic contaminants such as lead and arsenic.
  
Safe, proven and cost-effective, it is also the only facility in Victoria approved to dispose of heavy metal contaminants in soil that has been immobilised. 

The facility offers cost competitive and sustainable waste decontamination solutions to industry while highlighting the companies' commitment to the circular economy. 

Veolia's vice president of infrastructure, Craig Barker, said the advanced thermal desorption plant utilises a unique direct-fired process to comprehensively treat a wide variety of toxic chemical substances found in soil and industrial waste.

The treated and regenerated product is of such high quality it can be beneficially reused in a number of applications, including road base aggregate and clean fill alternatives, both of which are a great illustration of the circular economy at work, he said. 

Picture above: The EarthSure® facility which is fully licensed to accept a wide range of hazardous waste

Pictured: Grader spreading road base

Veolia and Ventia are eager to expand the operation on the back of major project wins including the Melbourne Metro Tunnel project which diverted over 18,000 tonnes of contaminated soil from landfill.

"We're particularly pleased with the very high landfill diversion rate for treated soil that we're able to achieve which is currently running at over 95%," Mr Barker said. "We think that's something to be excited about."

James Cole, general manager of environmental services at Ventia, added that EarthSure® customers can also have confidence that their contaminated and hazardous waste is appropriately handled, alleviating legacy concerns. 

"The EarthSure® facility tracks all waste received from the moment it leaves the host site until the point of final destruction, disposal or reuse," Mr Cole said. 

It's not just an easy and cost-effective solution to minimising risks of managing and disposing contaminated and hazardous waste, but a service that offers genuine peace of mind.

"With a recent report suggesting the quantity of hazardous waste generated in Australia will continue to increase, we're looking forward to building on the early successes and helping further grow the circular economy in Victoria," he said.

EarthSure® is operated by a multi-disciplinary team of experts with local and international industry experience. The team is led by Tai Truong, one of the most experienced technical minds in relation to thermal waste treatment in Australia. Tai has extensive experience in the management of complex waste and has overall responsibility for managing the facility. Among others, he is supported by Dr John Lucas, Ventia's senior technical advisor, who brought thermal treatment to Victoria and Indika Soysa, who is responsible for maintenance and engineering at the facility.

 

Read more about EarthSure® at www.earthsurefacility.com