Cleanaway expands Sydney footprint with GRL acquisition

The NSW EPA licensed organics composting facility bolsters our FOGO processing capability for the region

Industry Updates - Resource Recovery

September 20, 2022

Highlights

“This acquisition represents an important step in the acceleration of our Blueprint 2030 strategy."

Highlights

“This acquisition represents an important step in the acceleration of our Blueprint 2030 strategy."

Cleanaway has acquired composting business Global Renewables Holdings Pty Ltd (GRL) in Sydney for $168.5 million. The acquisition is expected to complete within Q3 2022.

“This acquisition represents an important step in the acceleration of our Blueprint 2030 strategy,” said Cleanaway Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mark Schubert.

“The facility provides a strategic location and infrastructure to enhance our broader network and customer offering today and into the future as we position ourselves for the growing FOGO market opportunity.”

“The announcement of Cleanaway’s acquisition of the GRL facility at Eastern Creek is a huge moment for our Organics Blueprint,” said Matt McKenzie, General Manager, Solid Waste Services, NSW/ACT.

“GRL provides us with large scale and licensed composting infrastructure in a highly strategic location and will complement our planned transition to food and organics waste processing at Lucas Heights. Both sites are expected to deliver leading landfill diversion rates, high resource recovery, and improved carbon outcomes, and will position us well to lead as the Sydney market transitions to FOGO.”

“I’m looking forward to continuing the great work on NSW Organics and welcoming the 100 strong team from GRL into the Cleanaway family!”

Pictured: The GRL organics composting facility in Western Sydney.

GRL is a New South Wales Environmental Protection Agency (NSW EPA) licensed large-scale organics composting facility.

The facility’s strategic location will enable Cleanaway to play a pivotal role in the processing of 220,000 tonnes or approximately 20% of Sydney’s mixed household waste and Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) waste.

GRL will also help us deliver 30% landfill diversion and better carbon outcomes than red bin waste sent directly to landfill. The diversion of FOGO from landfill is a crucial component of a more sustainable resource recovery, as organic waste trapped in landfill releases methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

Cleanaway is the exclusive contracted provider of waste to the GRL facility until 2032, with waste supply underpinned by contracts with surrounding councils.

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