The City of Gold Coast has made a major move towards long-term sustainable waste management, securing a $90 million organics processing facility in Yatala. This acquisition marks the first step in the city’s ambitious Advanced Resource Recovery Centre (ARRC) project, designed to shift the region away from landfill dependency and towards a circular economy.
The newly acquired facility, soon to be named ARRC Organics, will play a critical role in reducing landfill volumes by enabling large-scale recycling of green and potentially food waste. The ARRC initiative as a whole is projected to divert up to 97% of waste from landfill, offering both environmental and economic benefits to the city and its residents.
With local landfills forecast to reach capacity within a decade, the City’s proactive purchase replaces the original plan to build a new facility. This not only accelerates the project timeline by several years but also results in significant savings in construction and planning costs.
Mayor Tom Tate said the decision was prompted by the broader challenges currently facing the organics recycling sector across South-East Queensland. “We have had the foresight to recognise the difficulties facing the sector, and move to ensure the green organics collected from Gold Coast homes won’t end up in landfill and cost ratepayers more in waste levy fees,” he said.
Due diligence on the purchase included technical, economic and environmental assessments. The City confirmed that the facility’s operations meet environmental standards, the equipment in use is advanced and proven, and the investment presents long-term cost savings for ratepayers.
According to Mayor Tate, the Yatala site also offers the chance to generate potential economic returns by servicing other customers. “This investment positions the Gold Coast as the leading recycler of organic matter in the south-east,” he said.
The ARRC project is broader than just organics. It includes plans for a new recycling facility, a residual waste-to-energy plant, an Innovation Park for recycling businesses, and a community education centre. All components are expected to be operational by the end of 2032, pending approvals.
The City’s earlier rollout of more than 130,000 green organics bins has already diverted an additional 9,000 tonnes of green waste annually, lifting the city’s recycling rate from 36% to 40%. With the Yatala facility, food organics recycling may also become a viable next step.
Mayor Tate said: “This is the first step in our pioneering plan that will cement the Gold Coast as Australia’s leading circular economy-focused city.”
