‘Weak link’ in Sydney’s waste disposal infrastructure could leave city with piles of uncollected garbage

At least one large freight train leaves a facility in Clyde in Sydney each day packed with putrescible waste bound for Veolia’s Woodlawn facility. Photograph: Rohan Thomson/The Guardian

Sydney is fast running out of landfill and an “emerging weak link” in the plan for how the city manages solid waste in the future could see uncollected garbage left piling up at hospitals and other businesses, experts warn.

Sydney has increasingly been sending its waste out of the city and its dwindling landfill capacities have long been acknowledged by the industry and relevant authorities. Some experts estimate Sydney will no longer be able to bury any of its own rubbish within city limits from as early as 2028.