Waste to Energy is attracting renewed interest as Australia grapples with rising waste volumes, pressure on recycling systems and more ambitious diversion targets. It is not a single solution to the waste challenge, but it can play a defined role in managing residual materials that cannot be recovered through higher order options.

Australia’s response to the Millennium Drought showed how early action, infrastructure investment, and community engagement can transform the way we manage vital resources. Today, the waste sector faces similar pressures in the context of rising consumption, declining landfill capacity, and the urgent need for more sustainable systems.

This article explores how proven principles from water reform, including proactive investment, policy alignment, and behavioural change, can be applied to reshape Australia’s waste sector.