Snowy 2.0 constitutes a significant expansion of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, enhancing the existing capacity by 2000 megawatts and incorporating an additional 350,000 MW hours of energy storage for the National Electricity Market (NEM). Snowy Hydro Limited (Snowy Hydro) spearheads this pumped hydro-electric endeavor, known as Snowy 2.0, which involves connecting the Tantangara and Talbingo Reservoirs via underground tunnels and constructing a new hydro-electric power station. To realize Snowy 2.0, workers are excavating 47 kilometers of underground tunnels and establishing substantial infrastructure.
Around 2000 individuals inhabit three construction sites, with numbers varying over the seven-year project. These residential "camps" boast canteens, ablution facilities, lodging, and workspaces, generating diverse waste streams, including a notable proportion of potentially recyclable organic materials. The remote locale and associated transportation expenses encourage the implementation of on-site recycling facilities wherever feasible.
SESL was commissioned to facilitate the practical execution of the Snowy 2.0 Mains Works Waste Management Plan. This Snowy 2.0 Waste Strategy, devised by SESL, revolves around three primary objectives: (1) recycling and reusing organic waste streams from accommodation and work camps on-site, prioritizing the conversion of kitchen scraps, food waste, and other suitable organic materials into valuable resources; (2) managing inorganic waste to achieve optimal economic outcomes for the FGJV and superior environmental outcomes for the KNP, through meticulous handling of construction debris and other non-organic waste to mitigate costs and safeguard the environment; and (3) facilitating the reuse of recycled organic wastes in topsoil and subsoil development for progressive and final rehabilitation endeavors, reaffirming the project's dedication to repurposing waste as a resource for landscape restoration.