Natural Recovery Systems Composting Project

The Natural Recovery Systems Composting Project is an Alternative Waste Treatment (AWT) project located in the suburb of Clarinda, approximately 20km southeast of Melbourne's Central Business District. Registered in April 2013, the project was originally established under the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) before transitioning to the 2015 methodology. The project operates within a known industrial and waste management precinct in Melbourne's "Sandbelt" region, an area historically characterized by sandy soil profiles and market gardens, now predominantly utilized for resource recovery and urban development.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Alternative Waste Treatment) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology credits emissions reductions achieved by diverting mixed solid waste, that would otherwise release methane in a landfill, to a specialized treatment facility. In this specific case, the project involves diverting waste to a facility that utilizes enclosed composting technology. A key feature of this operation is the production of a combustible fuel substitute (often referred to as Process Engineered Fuel or PEF) alongside compost products, effectively turning waste into an energy source.

Regional environmental conditions in this part of southeast Melbourne typically feature moderate rainfall, averaging between 600mm and 750mm annually. While the site is industrial, the surrounding landscape is flat with deep sandy loam soils that originally supported heathland vegetation. The project is managed by Veolia Environmental Services (Australia) Pty Ltd, following their acquisition of Natural Recovery Systems. Notably, the project successfully completed its Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC254087) in August 2022, marking the conclusion of a specific delivery period under the Emissions Reduction Fund.