Minister visits SRWRA to see sustainable waste management in action
The Southern Region Waste Resource Authority (SRWRA) was pleased to welcome the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, the Hon. Emily Bourke MLC, onsite for a tour of its key facilities and operations supporting communities across Adelaide’s southern region.
Minister Bourke was shown around the integrated waste management precinct by SRWRA Chief Executive Officer Martin Borgas and Board Chair Mark Booth, who provided an overview of SRWRA’s role in delivering innovative and sustainable waste management solutions for its constituent councils, local communities and the environment.
“It was great to show Minister Bourke the work happening across our site every day, from recovering valuable resources to generating renewable energy and supporting better waste outcomes for our communities,” Martin said.
During the visit, the Minister toured a range of SRWRA’s operational areas, including the Southern Materials Recovery Facility (SMRF), the Southern Recycling Centre (SRC), landfill cells and the Renewable Energy Hub.
The tour showed the scale of work across the precinct, with 41,000 tonnes of mixed recyclables processed each year through the SMRF, 36,500 tonnes of general waste diverted from landfill through the SRC, and enough solar and biogas energy generated to power 3,000 homes.
The visit also provided an opportunity to showcase the technologies, systems and partnerships that help SRWRA improve waste diversion outcomes and support a more circular economy. This included discussion of the work being delivered alongside Joint Venture partners Re.Group, IWS and LMS, as well as the community education initiatives being rolled out to help residents in southern Adelaide better understand recycling and positive waste practices.
Minister Bourke was also introduced to key team members who contribute to the safe and effective day-to-day operation of the site. Their work is central to ensuring materials are processed to a high quality, landfill operations are managed carefully and opportunities for resource recovery continue to grow.
SRWRA is proud to demonstrate how investment in infrastructure, education and collaboration can deliver practical environmental outcomes for southern communities. The Minister’s visit was a valuable opportunity to share this work and discuss how SRWRA can continue supporting South Australia’s transition to more sustainable waste and resource recovery practices.