NO Sunbury Waste Incinerator

I’m supporting 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.

If approved, the facility 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

Several state and federal MPs have opposed waste-to-energy projects — including Victoria’s Minister for Energy and Climate Action, Lily D’Ambrosio, and Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, who called waste incinerators “disgusting” and “not clean energy.”

If government MPs reject incinerators in their own electorates, why are they forcing one on Sunbury?

In August 2025, Parliament passed our motion to establish an inquiry into the impacts of WtE. We will demand that the Sunbury incinerator and similar projects receive proper scrutiny and community consultation, considering the long-term health and environmental impacts.

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.
Subscribe to updates on The development and expansion of waste-to-energy (WtE) infrastructure in Victoria – Parliament of Victoria Inquiry.