SMRC Waste Composting Facility

The SMRC Waste Composting Facility is an Alternative Waste Treatment (AWT) project located at the Regional Resource Recovery Centre (RRRC) in Canning Vale, approximately 15km south of the Perth CBD in Western Australia. Registered in May 2013, the project operates within a dedicated 12-hectare waste management site situated in a heavy industrial zone. The facility services the southern metropolitan region, processing waste from local councils including Fremantle and Melville.

This project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Alternative Waste Treatment) Methodology Determination 2015. Alternative Waste Treatment projects generate carbon credits by diverting mixed solid waste (MSW) that would otherwise be sent to landfill. By processing this waste in a purpose-built composting facility, the project prevents the generation of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, that occurs when organic waste decomposes anaerobically in landfills.

The Canning Vale region sits on the Swan Coastal Plain, an area characterized by a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The local environment features deep, sandy soils, historically associated with the Bassendean Dune system, although the immediate project site is highly modified for industrial use.

A notable feature of this facility is its use of "Bedminster" technology, which employs large rotating drum digesters to accelerate the composting process within an enclosed environment. This technology allows the facility to rapidly process household waste into compost while capturing odours. The project is a long-standing initiative that transitioned from the original 'CFI' scheme and successfully completed a major carbon abatement contract (CAC550960) with the Australian Government in 2020.