Funding approval for $35m waste plant

Perth company AnaeCo has announced it will immediately start construction of an expanded waste treatment facility in Shenton Park after infrastructure fund manager, Palisade Investment Partners gave final investment approval for the project.

Palisade Investment gave in-principal support to the $35 million project in August.

The facility will treat 55,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste per year once the expansion is finished.

It produces energy from biogas, agricultural grade compost and recyclables.

The plant expansion will be managed by AnaeCo, which developed the waste treatment technology.

Its joint venture partner Monadelphous Group will provide construction services.

"Our role in constructing this facility aligns with the continued development of our infrastructure business," said Monadelphous managing director Rob Velletri.

"We are happy to be involved in this innovative venture, which has such positive environmental and social outcomes," he said.

The chair of the Western Metropolitan Regional Council, Ron Norris said, "This is a major milestone in the project as it signifies the imminent construction of Stage 2 of the WMRC DiCOM® plant."

"The WMRC is excited at the prospect of being the first facility to demonstrate the world-leading DiCOM® technology," he said.

"This will be the first time in Australia that an existing transfer station has been retrofitted with alternative waste processing technology.

"Once operational, the plant will ensure residents in Perth's western suburbs benefit from environmentally responsible waste disposal at a predictable price for the next 20 years," he said.

AnaeCo managing director Tom Rudas said, "Once again I am very pleased to have reached another key milestone in the commercialisation of the DiCOM® System."

"This final phase of the commercialisation path of the most advanced system in the world for biological solid waste treatment is a significant step for a small Western Australian company.

"Now we must efficiently execute the final construction and commissioning phase to then deliver the best municipal waste processing services available to any local authority in Australia," he said.