Emerging opportunities for waste sector investment
The NSW Government recently released Chapter 1 of its new Waste and Circular Infrastructure Plan (Plan), which signals a shift toward a more coordinated, long-term approach to managing the state’s residual waste (unrecycled) and food and garden waste needs. The Plan seeks to respond to immediate waste infrastructure pressures — including rapidly reducing landfill capacity, population growth and growing waste volumes — and provides a list of proposed actions and associated timeframes for the planning and coordination of strategic waste infrastructure. This includes:
Establishing a streamlined planning process for new priority waste infrastructure
The NSW Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) will issue the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) in 18 days, if required, and assess applications in 80 days. DPHI will also establish an agency liaison group to provide a whole-of-government approach to the assessment of individual priority applications for existing landfills. This group will identify early issues with proposals and provide technical feedback on the assessment approach during preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and DPHI’s assessment of the application. The establishment of this new pathway is set to start from late 2025.
Rapidly assess applications for existing priority landfills
The NSW Government will “rapidly assess” priority applications for existing landfills on an ‘as needed’ basis, to avoid critical landfill shortfalls expected from 2030, as well as priority landfill extension or expansion proposals in line with the new streamlined process, outlined above.
Consider reopening closed landfills to improve resilience in Greater Sydney’s waste management network
If extending or expanding currently operating landfills is not sufficient to offset expected shortfalls in putrescible waste capacity, the NSW Government will consider reopening previously closed landfill sites to build additional capacity and resilience in Greater Sydney’s waste management system. The NSW Government will also assess opportunities to utilise these sites as transfer stations and organics processing facilities. DPHI indicates it will consider reopening any such suitable landfill sites by 2028.
Establish a waste infrastructure concierge to provide planning advice and support to applicants
The NSW Government will establish a waste infrastructure concierge to provide proponents with planning support for their proposed waste infrastructure applications. Property & Development NSW, DPHI and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) will provide expert advisers to provide advice to proponents to support preparation of high quality development applications that meet the required standards. For operators, this may open opportunities to invest in organics processing, advanced recycling, transfer-station upgrades and, where suitable, residual-waste treatment technologies. This work is set to start from early 2026.
Alleviate pressures on existing landfills
Waste Asset Management Corporation and the EPA will investigate opportunities to maximise the reuse of virgin excavated natural material (VENM) and excavated natural material (ENM) produced through construction and demolition activities, including the feasibility of establishing VENM/ENM holding yards. This investigation is set to be complete by the end of 2025.
A coordinated approach to infrastructure planning and investment
The Plan indicates that the NSW Government will also establish an Advisory Committee for strategic waste infrastructure, comprising local council representatives, industry members and technical experts. The purpose of the committee will be to provide local insights, identify barriers to planning and investment in critical waste and recycling infrastructure, highlight opportunities to accelerate industry investment in line with the waste hierarchy, and advise the Government on risks to implementing the Plan and achieving its objectives.
A submission in response to the Plan by Local Government NSW (LGNSW) indicates it welcomes the Plan’s intent and its recognition that waste is an essential service requiring whole-of-government coordination. Councils recognise the value in clearer planning pathways and more consistent strategic direction, particularly for facilities that support food-and-garden-organics rollout, expanded resource recovery and modernised transfer capacity. For private operators, these signals may help provide greater planning certainty and a more stable environment for long-term investment.
At the same time, LGNSW has highlighted the need for the Plan to embed stronger roles for councils, establish clearly defined responsibilities, KPIs, enforceable commitments and sustainable funding and governance frameworks. Councils remain cautious about approaches that rely solely on landfill extensions or concentrate residual-waste infrastructure in a small number of communities. LGNSW emphasises that success will depend on early engagement, transparent decision-making and ensuring communities understand and have a voice in how waste infrastructure is planned and delivered. We agree that this sensitivity is very important. Recent public debate shows communities are increasingly alert to where waste facilities are located, how impacts are managed, and whether the burden of new infrastructure is being fairly shared. Concerns about environmental safeguards, transport links, cumulative impacts and long-term monitoring are shaping expectations for any new waste facility — particularly in regional areas. Operators considering new proposals will need to build confidence through rigorous environmental performance, open communication and a clear demonstration of the proposal’s benefits.
The Plan is still evolving, and many details — including funding arrangements, timelines and the next chapters — are yet to be released. Even so, it marks the beginning of a more coordinated and forward-looking approach. For waste operators prepared to align innovation with collaboration and community engagement, it may also mark the start of a more certain, investment-ready phase for the sector.
Should you wish to hear more about the Plan, please don’t hesitate to contact Kate Swain or Elizabeth Ross-Smith in our Project Approvals Team.
Link to the Plan: Waste and Circular Infrastructure Plan | EPA
