Port Stephens Council was the first council in New South Wales to adopt an advanced controlled process AWT to process its domestic waste (or MSW), issuing a 20 year contract in 1998. This visionary action has ensured that Port Stephens Council has enjoyed a high level of diversion of these materials from landfill.

Utilising SITA’s Composting Facility at Raymond Terrace, the organic component is separated and processed into recycled quality soil conditioners for use in landscaping, land rehabilitation, turf growing and broadacre agriculture.

This innovative approach has seen Port Stephens Council reduce the amount of their domestic and commercial material streams destined for landfill disposal by approximately 65%.

The process also enables the recovery of other valuable resources such as steel which is sold as a recycled product back to industry, further improving the environment.

Any residual from the process is inert and when placed into a landfill does not create methane and leachate issues.  If the organics were not removed, both of these problems would be generated for many years, even after the landfill is closed.

From a climate change perspective as the process is aerobic, the generation of greenhouse gases (GHG) is significantly reduced.  Although carbon dioxide is a natural by-product of the aerobic composting process, it forms part of the natural carbon cycle.  However, it does not produce methane, a far more serious GHG (25 times more serious!).

The Port Stephens Waste Management Group facility significantly improves the environment by accepting and processing organics into products that local industry needs, as well as reducing total GHG emissions from the community. 

Guided tours of the SITA facility at Raymond Terrace can be arranged by contacting the Port Stephens Council Waste Services department.