SA EPA Authorizes Plastic Waste Burning Trial at Port Adelaide Cement Plant

SA EPA Authorizes Plastic Waste Burning Trial at Port Adelaide Cement Plant

According to ABC, the EPA-approved trial permits the facility to utilize RDF—a processed fuel sourced largely from the construction sector—at two distinct operational rates within the plant. The factory’s calciner is authorized to burn up to 32 tonnes per hour with a maximum 20 percent concentration of plastic. Simultaneously, the cement kiln is permitted to consume RDF at a rate of 10 tonnes per hour, with a peak plastic concentration limit of 50 percent.

Operational Parameters and Regulatory Oversight

EPA compliance director Steven Sergi stated that the trial is subject to strict conditions. The agency expects complete combustion of the RDF, including plastics, paper, cardboard, and timber, due to the kiln operating at 1,400 degrees Celsius. We do not expect to see any emissions of plastics at all, Mr. Sergi said. He confirmed that the agency has set specific parameters within the licence; should these be exceeded, particularly regarding air quality, the trial must cease immediately.

To monitor the impact, the EPA plans to conduct unannounced inspections and maintain ambient air quality monitoring in the surrounding community. Data will be collected on particle types, sulphur dioxide, and oxides of nitrogen. A final report, which will include all required monitoring data and an assessment of the trial, is expected within 90 days of the project’s completion.

Community and Municipal Opposition

The authorization has been met with significant local resistance. Port Adelaide Enfield Council voted last week to seek urgent legal advice regarding a potential injunction to halt the trial. The council is also calling for the government to implement 24-hour stack monitoring and provide independent oversight of the process.

Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Claire Boan expressed the community’s apprehension, noting that residents are concerned about the lack of available data regarding long-term health safety. We have not seen nationwide data of any kind whatsoever that actually explains this is safe for our community, Mayor Boan said.

Local resident groups, including the Port Adelaide Residents Environment Protection Group, have highlighted the proximity of the factory to residential housing—which is approximately 50 metres away—and pointed to a history of odour complaints. Tony Bazeley, a long-time member of the group, stated that residents feel the information provided by the company remains too general and that the full results will not be available until well after the trial concludes.

Company Stance on Waste Diversion

Adbri, which has utilized RDF at the site since the early 2000s, maintains that the fuel is a highly processed engineered product that must meet strict quality controls. A spokesperson for the company stated that the use of RDF has successfully diverted at least 2.7 million tonnes of waste from landfills while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

As reported by streamlinefeed.co.ke, the conflict has intensified the debate over industrial emissions in the Port Adelaide corridor. While the EPA has noted that the high-volume operational rates are not expected to be sustained on an ongoing basis, the community’s demand for greater transparency and environmental protection remains a central point of contention. The outcome of the legal challenge and the subsequent 90-day post-trial report are expected to be pivotal for future industrial waste-to-energy policy in the region.