The purpose of the Division is to establish and maintain a viable EfW industry that operates within the framework of ecologically sustainable development.

Energy from Waste (EfW) is often perceived to be no more than poorly disguised incineration and a technology that both destroys resources and creates pollution. However EfW can present a viable solution for recovering resources that would otherwise be lost to conventional landfill, while at the same time reducing the use of fossil fuels for our energy sources.

The major focus for the Division since its inception has been the development of a Sustainability Guide for Energy from Waste projects in addition to a complementary Industry Code of Practice for Energy from Waste proponents and practitioners.  Together they provide the fledgling EfW industry with a widely accepted protocol, process and strategic framework for assessing EfW projects and proposals.

The vision of the Energy from Waste Sustainability Project is for a sustainable Australia with our systems, facilities and infrastructure working to avoid and minimise waste, recover valuable resources and energy and close the loop on urban resource consumption.

Sustainability Guide
The Sustainability Guide is intended to help the community, government and industry stakeholders know when it is best to conserve materials presenting as urban "wastes" in something close to their original form and when it is appropriate to convert them to energy through a variety of processes.

Download a copy of the Sustainability Guide.
For more information on the development of the Guide and Code, please follow this link to the Sustainability Project.