The council-funded operator of a major waste processing plant was scrambling yesterday to find alternatives to dispose of 1600 tonnes of rubbish a week from 84,000 homes after being ordered to close over odour issues.
In a move that campaigners against the Canning Vale facility welcomed, the Department of Environment and Conservation gave the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council two weeks to divert the waste before a full shutdown within 10 weeks.
In refusing its licence renewal on Friday, DEC director-general Keiran McNamara said he no longer had confidence in existing odour control technology and management systems at the plant.
The DEC said it had 141 odour complaints about the plant between March 1 and March 25 and two site visits identified “system failures” as the likely cause.
The $60 million plant, which turns rubbish into compost, has attracted hundreds of complaints about foul smells since it opened in 2003 and shut temporarily in 2006.
Environment Minister Bill Marmion put it on notice again six months ago to fix the odours.
Mr McNamara said a new licence would be considered only if the centre installed new treatment technology and odour controls.
SMRC acting chief executive Tim Youe said it would appeal against the “disappointing” ruling that would cost member councils millions of dollars, 40 jobs and work for 100 small businesses.
The SMRC estimated 60,000 of the 85,000 tonnes of waste collected each year from homes in Melville, Fremantle, East Fremantle and Cockburn council areas was diverted from landfill. All would now go to landfill, which was contrary to the Government’s diversion target of 50 per cent by 2015.
The councils, which will meet this week, moved to reassure ratepayers that rubbish collections would continue as usual.
However, Cockburn chief executive Stephen Cain said the ruling exposed the councils to a $40 million liability they could not recoup.
Shadow environment minister Sally Talbot said Mr Marmion had presided over a full-scale disaster.
