NO Sunbury Waste Incinerator

Since 2024, I’ve supported a grassroots campaign against a proposed waste incinerator between Sunbury and Bulla.

The NO Sunbury Waste Incinerator campaign formed in July 2025, led by residents alarmed by the project’s potential harm to their community.

Even new waste incinerators emit various pollutants, including lead, mercury, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and acidic gases. Many of these toxic emissions are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), banned by the Stockholm Convention. These are so-called ‘forever chemicals’ which pose a significant threat to human health.

Based on our party values, Legalise Cannabis Victoria supports:

A moratorium on waste-to-energy approvals until:
- A robust regulatory framework addressing concerns raised by the Inquiry into Waste to Energy Infrastructure is in place.
- A rigorous science and health-based assessment process is established, with appropriate buffer zones to protect communities.
- Genuine social licence and community acceptance has been achieved, including from local councils and Traditional Owners.
- Independent monitoring, transparent reporting and strong enforcement mechanisms are established to safeguard public health and the environment.
WtE should only be permitted for materials where there is no alternative to incineration, and all other recovery options are exhausted.
Far greater focus should be put onto waste reduction and achieving the principles of a true circular economy.

This policy position has been endorsed by LCV party management.

Sunbury proposal stinks

The Sunbury facility, if approved, will create an additional 300+ truck movements a day onto Sunbury’s already congested roads.

It would also consume around 180,000 litres of water – fresh drinking water – seven days a week, 365 days a year.

HiQ, the multinational company behind the proposal, has received provisional approval for a cap licence from Recycling Victoria. They are yet to submit applications for the development and operating licence of the site.

In 2019, a Victorian Parliament inquiry into recycling and waste management heard alarming evidence about waste incineration:

The toxic material in the incinerator ash is a combination of thin metals and dioxins. The dioxins are the most toxic chemicals ever analysed, and they persist in the environment for hundreds of years and are toxic in tiny amounts. They build up in the food chain, contaminate eggs, dairy products and livestock, and despite claims by the industry to the contrary, the problem of dioxins has never really been solved.”
Lee Bell, Senior Researcher – International pollutants elimination network, 2019

Despite this evidence, the committee recommended that the Victorian Government implement waste-to-energy.

Sunbury incinerator included in cap licences

Parliament investigates the issue

In August 2025, Parliament passed our motion to establish an inquiry into the impacts of WtE, which has now produced its final report. A public hearing took place in Sunbury on the 7th of May, 2026. The No Sunbury Incinerator Group participated in the first session.

You can watch all public hearing sessions on my Vimeo page.

Frequently Asked Questions 💬

What is waste-to-energy (WtE)?

Waste-to-energy involves burning rubbish to create heat, electricity, and fuels. The proposed Waste to Energy plant in Sunbury uses waste incineration to burn rubbish at high temperatures to make electricity.

WtE is part of broader changes in Victoria’s waste management strategy and should only be considered after all efforts to avoid, reuse, and recycle waste have been exhausted.

How will this proposed facility impact people in Sunbury and surrounds?

It needs more waste than we currently produce in Hume: Waste will need to be trucked in via an estimated additional 300+ truck movements per day! Causing additional strain on our already congested roads, and adding to air and noise pollution.
Wind will carry pollution: Southerly and south-westerly winds dominate in Sunbury — meaning not only will emissions from the proposed facility impact local homes, but emissions from a similar waste incinerator proposed for Wollert could blow into town.
This facility is too close to homes and nature: The site is just 1 km from homes, near Emu Creek, farms, and areas marked for new housing under the Sunbury Growth Corridor. It’s also close to waterways, raising concerns about contamination.
There are too many unanswered questions: Despite widely held concerns about the health and environmental impacts of waste to energy, there is no independent Environmental Effects Statement (EES) for this proposal.
This facility will run 24/7: The proposed model would operate non-stop, meaning constant noise, emissions, and light pollution day and night.
Health and environmental risks: Incinerators can release toxic chemicals like dioxins and heavy metals into the air and soil. Studies link incinerators to increased cancer risk, respiratory issues, and reproductive health problems.
Big Business, Not Community: Waste-to-energy was pushed during the pandemic with little public awareness. The Victorian Government has lifted the cap on how much waste can be burned — now up to 2.5 million tonnes per year.
Can we be confident in the company proposing the facility? HiQ was fined in 2024 by the EPA for offences or contraventions. How can we trust them to do the right thing?

Isn’t WtE better than landfill, because it generates electricity?

Although waste incineration is being sold as a better alternative to landfill, there are ways we could reduce waste and be less reliant on landfill.

Recyclables and organic waste are still ending up in the red-lidded bins. It would be better for the environment to recover these as resources, rather than resorting to burning them in an incinerator. This is favourable because:

WtE produces toxic air pollutants and hazardous waste.
Meanwhile, Europe is moving away from incineration, with countries like Denmark shutting down plants to focus on recycling and the circular economy.
Toxic ash requires secure landfill and creates serious health risks for workers and the surrounding community.

Stop using Sunbury as a dumping ground!

How you can take action:

Stay informed and tell others. For example, share this page with your friends and neighbours.
Join the No Waste Incinerator in Sunbury Facebook group and mailing list.
Sign the petitions – one for Sunbury and one statewide. Links below.
Contact your local MP and council to express your concerns.
Attend public meetings and events.