$17m upgrade to liquid and hazardous waste management facility

A $17 million upgrade is currently underway at Evoro’s Laverton North liquid and hazardous waste management facility in Melbourne, including new weighbridges and enhanced truck unloading processes.

Coming after a comprehensive five-year planning and approvals process, the upgrade is expected to be completed in late 2025.

“Our forte at Laverton North is handling difficult-to-treat industrial waste, giving it a second life through recycling or preparing it for safe disposal,” said Evoro Victoria General Manager Jenny Barnes.

“It’s a responsibility we conduct with professionalism and pride, knowing that such products could cause havoc if they were misused or illegally dumped, especially in waterways.”

The works are targeted at increasing the facility’s versatility so that it can handle a range of liquid and hazardous waste management services, including:

• neutralising acids and alkaline materials for safe disposal or discharge as stormwater (eg, acids used in galvanising processes to manufacture corrosion-resistant products);
• processing wastewater for safe discharge as stormwater (eg, wastewater resulting from industrial plant washdowns);
• separating and purifying water from oil, such as workshop ‘oily water’ (water mixed with oils and other lubricants), where recovered oil can be reused as an industrial fuel source;
• purifying waste glycol (antifreeze) for reuse;
• processing hard-to-treat liquids such as hydrogen fluoride and waters containing PFAS for safe disposal or reuse.
   

Evoro Chief Executive Officer Susan McBurney said the investment would incorporate leading global technology and practice.

“This is a sweeping site overhaul enabling us to modernise operations to world-class standard,” she said. “Our clients from multiple industrial sectors will reap the benefits of better efficiency, cost-effectiveness and service.

“Much of what we’re doing is a response to client feedback, and in line with strict regulatory requirements.”

The upgrade will bring Evoro closer to reaching maximum treatment capacity, currently at 60 million litres per year. Full-time employment at the facility is also scheduled to rise, from 34 people to 40 people.

Industrial development specialist LSR Construction Group is completing the works, after being selected via a tender process run by Evoro and Tango Projects.

Image caption: Evoro Victoria General Manager Jenny Barnes on location at Laverton North liquid and hazardous waste management facility. Image courtesy of Evoro.