Melbourne Regional Landfill (MRL)
Status: operational
Status: Operational
On 1 March 2015, Cleanaway took ownership and operational responsibility for the Melbourne Regional Landfill (MRL), adjacent to the Boral quarry on Christies Road, Ravenhall.
The landfill accepts waste as defined by our EPA licence number (12160). This includes domestic or household waste from kerbside collection, putrescible waste, commercial and industrial waste, construction and demolition waste, low level contaminated soils, green garden waste and clean fill. The landfill is also licenced to receive and dispose of asbestos waste.
We work hard with our customers to ensure the site only receives waste permitted in our licence and our customers and waste contractors have a good understanding of our site procedures and waste regulations.
In September 2017, Cleanaway completed major infrastructure upgrades to the renewal energy plant at the Melbourne Regional Landfill (MRL), boosting waste-to-energy capacity from 4.4Mw to 8.8Mw, and generating enough electricity to power more than 13,000 homes each year.
As waste decomposes at the MRL, it releases landfill gas – a potent greenhouse gas. This gas is collected through an extensive network of pipes and transported to the onsite Biogas Plant. The flammable components of the gas, especially methane, are then disposed of, usually by ‘flaring’ the gas. Learn more about turning landfill gas to power in our detailed article here.
Cleanaway recently installed landfill gas generators that combust the gas, destroy the methane, before converting it into electricity to be sent to the national grid. They have an uptime rate of 90%, which means we’re providing renewable energy into the electricity grid 24 hours a day, all year round.
Nationally, Cleanaway collects 120 million cubic metres of landfill gas every year, which is converted into more than 130 million kWh of renewable energy, enough to power an average of 27,000 homes.
Cleanaway is committed to investing in renewable energy technologies to ensure that even residual waste can still be a valuable resource. Visit our Sustainable Future hub to learn more.
Cleanaway’s $50,000 Community Benefit Fund is NOW OPEN for applications – for more information.
Video of Operations
We invite you to view our new video that explains all aspects of our daily operations at Melbourne Regional Landfill using this video link.
Find out more about the Melbourne Regional Landfill
For further information, contact our Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager, Olga Ghiri on olga.ghiri@cleanaway.com.au or 0478316237. You can also read more about some of the ‘facts’ about the Melbourne Regional Landfill here.
For more information on landfill operations and the Melbourne Regional Landfill expansion you can also visit: Environmental Protection Authority Victoria – Licenses & Approvals Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning – Melbourne Regional Landfill expansion
Application for Asbestos Abatement
Cleanaway is seeking approval from the Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to amend its licence to permit asbestos abatement at the Melbourne Regional Landfill.
Asbestos abatement involves removing asbestos from the waste soils within designated cells, which were brought into the landfill for disposal. The landfill is licenced to receive asbestos waste.
The abatement process will allow the reuse of soils on site, thereby reducing the volume of incoming soil loads and reducing the number of trucks transporting the soil to the site.
More details are provided here – QAs Asbestos Abatement
Community Information Webinars
You can register to attend an online webinar about this application to ask us any questions.
Webinar 1: Wed 4 October 2023 from – 7pm to 8pm (online)
Webinar 2: Thu 5 October 2023 – 7pm to 8pm (online)
You will receive an online meeting link when you register using the contact details below.
To find out more or to register please contact Olga Ghiri – Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager by email olga.ghiri@cleanaway.com.au or by phone 0478 316 237
Application for Steepening of Landfill Batters
Cleanaway is seeking approval from the EPA to steepen the contours of the landfill batters at the Melbourne Regional Landfill.
The purpose of our application is to steepen the perimeter side slope batters of landfill cells from a 1in5 slope to 1in3 slope. This will enable us to maximise the airspace within each landfill cell, without any visual impact and no change to the peak height of the landfill.
A 3D visualisation model was provided to Melton City Council’s planning department to assess the visual impact of our application. Council has determined our application to be “low risk (insignificant)” as the peak height of the landfill remains unchanged.
Our Community Information Webinars were cancelled due to lack of registrations.
If you would like to find out more about this application, please contact Olga Ghiri – Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager by email olga.ghiri@cleanaway.com.au or by phone 0478 316 237
Asbestos Waste Management
In 2022, Cleanaway received approval from the EPA to receive and dispose of asbestos waste within engineered landfill cells only.
More details are provided here – QA’s Asbestos Licence Amendment
Cleanaway hosted Community Information Webinars in November 2021 to enable community members to ask questions about our asbestos management practices.
We also distributed a letter drop to over 45,000 households to inform the broader community and to encourage registrations to our information webinars.
If you would like to know more, please contact Olga Ghiri – Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager by email olga.ghiri@cleanaway.com.au or by phone 0478 316 237
Join our Community Reference Group
Cleanaway invites applications from the community to join its Melbourne Regional Landfill – Community Reference Group (MRLCRG). Our community group was established in 2016 with representatives from the local community, including residents, the EPA, and Councillors from Brimbank and Melton Councils. Meetings are held every three months, on a weeknight for two hours and are independently facilitated.
The MRLCRG plays an important role in facilitating the flow of information and ideas between Cleanaway, the EPA Victoria, local Councils and the community – helping to build a productive and positive working relationship.
The meetings enable Cleanaway and it’s regulators to provide ongoing communication and consultation with our local community by providing regular updates about landfill operations, future projects, rehabilitation, compliance, and environmental management.
We also encourage our members to openly share information with their local networks. All meeting minutes and presentations are publicly available here on our website throughout the year.
More information about the structure and objectives of the MRLCRG meetings are outlined in the Terms of Reference available here
To apply to join the MRLCRG please complete Application Form available here
If you would like to discuss your application or to find out more information, please contact: Olga Ghiri, Stakeholder and Community Relations Manager on 0478 316 237 or email olga.ghiri@cleanaway.com.au
Meetings Held
18 August 2022
19 May 2022
28 October 2021
19 August 2021
20 May 2021
18 February 2021
19 November 2020
20 August 2020
2 July 2020
21 May 2020
27 February 2020
27 November 2019
15 August 2019
8 May 2019
7 February 2019
29 November 2018
6 September 2018
30 May 2018
28 February 2018
17 August 2017
18 May 2017
23 February 2017
23 January 2017
Working with the local community
Melbourne Regional Landfill Community Benefit Fund $50,000
Cleanaway’s $50,000 Community Benefit Fund is provided annually to fund sustainability projects that support environmental regeneration, recycling programs and community well-being.
We know that great communities are connected to each other and the environment that they live in. The biggest difference we can make is to empower local communities to take care of their environment, encourage resource recovery and promote sustainability.
Applications NOW OPEN for Round 6 – closing date 1 May 2025
Cleanaway is calling for funding applications from eligible groups located in the Caroline Springs, Deer Park and surrounding areas.
Our Guidelines provide more details on eligibility, criteria and key milestones.
If you have an initiative that will make a difference to your local community or the environment within the Melton and Brimbank areas, then you can apply using this Application Form.
If you would like to discuss your application and or eligibility, please contact Olga Ghiri on 0478316237 or email olga.ghiri@cleanaway.com.au .
Visit your community page
Do you live near us? Visit your community page to see the latest announcements, upcoming community events, environmental reports and more information about how we manage this facility in consultation with you.