Melbourne Regional Landfill (MRL)

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.

Cleanaway recently installed landfill gas generators that combust the gas, destroy the methane, before converting it into electricity to be sent to the national energy grid. The generators have an uptime rate of 90%, which means we’re providing 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 energy, enough to power an average of 15,000 homes.

Cleanaway is committed to investing in energy technologies to ensure that even residual waste can still be a valuable resource.

Visit our Sustainable Future hub to learn more.