With the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in full swing, a new government-commissioned study has revealed a looming and largely unresolved problem for regional communities: waste.
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The Central-West Orana REZ, stretching across Dubbo, Warrumbungle, Mid-Western, Narromine, Gilgandra and Warren shires, is the first Renewable Energy Zone in NSW to enter large-scale construction.
Alongside wind farms, solar parks, batteries and new transmission lines, the region is bracing for a sharp spike in waste volumes that local councils say they are not equipped to handle.
According to the CWO REZ Waste: Regional Major Infrastructure Study, commissioned by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and undertaken by MRA Consulting Group, waste generation across the region is expected to exceed normal levels by more than 275,000 tonnes a year during peak development.
In some scenarios, it's been estimated cumulative waste loads climb beyond 340,000 tonnes annually.
The most intense pressure is forecast between 2026 and 2031, when construction activity across dozens of renewable and non-renewable projects overlaps.
In total, 54 major projects were identified within the study area, including solar, wind, battery storage, pumped hydro, transmission infrastructure and Inland Rail.
Soil, rock and concrete alone account for around a third of all non-baseline waste, estimated at roughly 225,000 tonnes. Organics from vegetation clearing and workforce accommodation add another 120,000 tonnes, while wind turbine components contribute close to 100,000 tonnes.
Adding to the strain is the Inland Rail project, which on its own is expected to generate more than 730,000 tonnes of spoil and construction waste across three local government areas.
While much of this material has reuse potential, councils warn it still places enormous logistical pressure on local infrastructure.
Where can it go?
The study highlights a major mismatch between where waste will be generated and where it can actually go.
The central part of the REZ - where project activity is most concentrated - is also the least serviced by waste facilities.
According to the report, Dubbo's Whylandra Waste and Recycling Centre remains the region's principal facility, but it is already operating close to capacity and charges significantly higher gate fees for waste from outside the local government area.
"Wellington's waste facility is transitioning to a transfer-only station and will no longer accept commercial waste. Gilgandra and Narromine have limited capacity and are not configured for large-scale project waste," the report stated.
"Mid-Western Regional Council's Mudgee Waste Facility is effectively the only central landfill capable of receiving large commercial volumes, yet council has made it clear it will not accept large-scale REZ-related waste without clearer long-term data and mitigation strategies."
Councils consulted as part of the study raised consistent concerns about the quality of waste information in planning applications.
Many developments provide minimal detail on the volume, type and timing of waste, making it difficult for councils to plan infrastructure, staffing and budgets. Several councils said they simply do not have the resources to properly assess waste documentation in complex major project proposals.
Types of waste
Beyond sheer volume, the type of waste expected from renewable energy projects poses new challenges.
Damaged solar panels, wind turbine blades, batteries and other electrical components do not fit neatly into traditional waste streams and require specialised handling, recycling or reuse pathways.
According to the report, at present, no facilities in the region can manage these materials at scale.
There are, however, early signs of opportunity.
The study identifies strong potential for diverting organics, metals, solar PV modules and some wind components away from landfill if investment in local processing and reverse logistics is made.
Dubbo Regional Council is already piloting a second-hand solar panel reuse program at Whylandra, funded through the NSW EPA's Circular Solar Grants Program, and has flagged interest in hosting a regional solar panel recycling facility.
On-site reuse of spoil and vegetation is another area where waste volumes could be significantly reduced, particularly through rehabilitation and landscaping works, provided regulatory approvals are in place.
What is missing, the study concludes, is a coordinated regional solution.
Councils have called for options such as a new regional landfill and recycling hub or a hub-and-spoke model managed through NetWaste. They are also pushing for clearer state-level planning requirements, earlier decommissioning plans for renewable infrastructure, and funding aligned to the forecast peak waste years.
Without those measures, the report warns, the renewable energy transition risks shifting hidden costs onto regional communities already grappling with housing shortages, workforce pressures and ageing infrastructure.
