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Licella are the global leader in hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), the next-generation of advanced recycling.

Our first Cat-HTR™ Pilot Plant was commissioned in 2007. Our facility in Somersby, NSW, is the largest continuous flow Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) plant in the world.

Since 2017, we have adapted this technology to process End-of-Life plastics. In 2019 we established a small pilot plant in Somersby for specific use with plastics. Our first full scale Cat-HTR™ plant is currently under construction in the United Kingdom. 

ARV’s Advanced Recycling facility will use recycled industrial water supplied by Greater Western Water (GWW). 

GWW produces 100% recycled industrial water at its Altona water treatment plant, and their industrial water supply line passes by the Dow Altona site and is available for use. The use of recycled industrial water for ARV’s Advanced Recycling facility will mean that there is no impact on potable water usage for the rest of the community. 

As with the community, we believe air emissions should be minimised. The proposal meets Victorian air quality standards.  

However, we know that some members of the community feel these standards can be improved. We had the Altona Advanced Recycling project air emissions modelling completed twice to exceed the standards using European and British emissions reduction technology, to ensure the least impact on the surrounding community and environment.  

The facility will produce the following air emissions: 

• Steam
• Some gasses from the water heating process – these will be reduced to below 2% of allowable levels through using exhaust scrubbers 
• Minimal odour and noise

For Licella, any leftovers from the process is a business cost impacting our bottom line. The experience to date from our two other operating plants (in NSW) show that apart from steam and some heat from the reactor, there are minimal unintended products from the process. We are confident in operating a clean and green facility. 

We understand there are historic examples of facilities accepting wastes beyond their original intention. We know this happens when operators fail to find viable amounts of waste to process, leading them to search for other wastes, which may or may not be acceptable to community standards. 

Therefore, we would like to assure the community that the proposed facility will only target the following waste plastic materials: 

• High density polyethylene (HDPE)
• Low density polyethylene (LDPE)
• Polypropylene (PP)

The development of this proposed facility follows an extensive Feasibility Study conducted by Licella, in conjunction with independent consultants, to verify that the above-mentioned suitable feedstock was available for the facility. 

The first stage of our project will process at least 20,000 tonners per annum.  From our Feasibility Study conducted in 2021, we found an estimated 649,000 tonnes of End-of-Life plastic was available for processing.

Our commitment is to be transparent and working alongside community, this includes any opportunity for expansion in future. 

Our initial proposal is for a first module that will process 20,000 tonnes of mixed plastic waste. However, we anticipate that the ongoing supply of plastic waste will remain high and that demand for the recycled product will also increase. As such, it is likely that the facility will be expanded over time. 

All future plans will be subject to community feedback and regulatory licencing.

Plastic is a complex issue. Waste plastics packaging that is fit for purpose plays a key role in food safety, product longevity and product protection which reduces food waste. 

Australia’s 2025 national packaging targets include 70% of plastic packaging being recycled or composted by 2025. 

We see Advanced Recycling as a bridging solution to a lower carbon future, it works within the Waste Hierarchy by reducing the total amount of virgin plastic we use. As a bridging solution, we are not enabling the plastic industry, we are helping it evolve to a more sustainable future. 

Truck movements in the residential area will not be increased.  The Altona Advanced Recycling project is located within the existing industrial corridor.