Refuse derived fuel (RDF) trial proposal approved – alternative RDF supplier

The EPA has approved a proposal from Adbri to undertake a 16-week trial to assess an alternative supply of refuse derived fuel (RDF) in the calciner at its Birkenhead facility.

Adbri is already licensed to use up to 32 tonnes per hour of RDF in the calciner. RDF has been used instead of natural gas as an alternative fuel for the plant since 2003.

The trial involves Adbri using RDF from a new supplier to supplement the RDF currently supplied by Veolia-ResourceCo Alternative Fuels Pty Ltd. The trial RDF will be the same type and composition of fuel already used, provided by a different supplier.

The EPA has assessed the proposal in accordance with the conditions of Adbri’s licence (EPA Licence 1126) and the EPA’s Standard for the Production and Use of Refuse Derived Fuel.

No changes have been made to the EPA licence.

The trial is permitted to operate over a total of 120 hours in two stages over the 16-week window. Subject to satisfactory environmental emissions assessment, the trial may be extended for a further period (Stage 3) to assist in further testing of the RDF blending process for the two RDF supplies up to a maximum of 190 days.

This trial is separate to the trial recently undertaken by Adbri relating to RDF usage in the cement kiln. The EPA is awaiting the submission of a post-trial report for the RDF cement kiln trial, which must be submitted within 90 days of the completion of the trial.

Monitoring and regulation of the trial

The EPA will ensure that the trial is undertaken in accordance with the pre-trial report and is properly assessed against required outcomes, including process stability, emissions assessment, and the uniformity/suitability of the RDF.

For the duration of the trial, Adbri must implement additional air quality monitoring, including additional nitrogen dioxide monitoring and odour assessments in the local community.

EPA staff will monitor trial activity and have a presence on-site during the trial.

If air monitoring data exceeds licence limits at any time, Adbri will be required to immediately stop the trial and further assessment will be undertaken to determine whether the trial can proceed.

Community engagement

As part of its assessment of the trial proposal, the EPA has taken into consideration community feedback and questions and has required Adbri to clarify its intended community engagement processes before, during and after trial completion.