Sydney's Rubbish Heads to NSW Towns: Outrage Brews

Four towns in New South Wales are slated to become destinations for Sydney's increasing volume of rubbish, as the metropolitan area's landfills are nearing their capacity. These selected towns will house incinerators designed to burn excess waste from Sydney, converting it into energy.

Landfills situated in Lucas Heights, Eastern Creek, and Erskine Park are all forecasted to reach their maximum capacity by the year 2030. The priority infrastructure areas chosen to manage this excess waste include West Lithgow, Parkes, Richmond Valley, and Southern Goulburn Mulwaree. These sites were identified due to their proximity to Greater Sydney, regional NSW, and the Inland Rail network.

The NSW Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has emphasized the critical need for immediate action to manage waste levels effectively. Without new waste solutions, landfill capacity is predicted to be exhausted within the next decade, significantly increasing waste management costs for households and businesses. This situation could exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis and impede crucial infrastructure development, such as housing.

The plan has ignited fierce opposition from local councils and residents in the affected towns. Concerns about potential health risks have been raised, drawing parallels to a rejected waste-to-energy plant application in Sydney in 2018 due to health uncertainty. Parkes Mayor Neil Westcott voiced strong objections, questioning the safety of transporting waste to rural areas if it's deemed unsafe for Sydney. Farmers in Parkes are particularly worried about toxic emissions impacting soil quality and potentially leading to produce rejection in markets.

However, proponents like Parkes Energy Recovery director Ed Nicholas assert that the emissions are safe, citing the successful deployment of similar facilities globally. Despite these assurances, the decision remains a contentious issue for the communities selected to bear the burden of Sydney's waste.