Australia: Adbri’s cement plant in Adelaide has received approval to burn more plastic waste as alternative fuel for its kiln, in a decision a local council is seeking to challenge in the courts, according to ABC news. The South Australia Environment Protection Authority (EPA) earlier in July 2026 approved a six-week trial permitting Adbri to use greater amounts of refuse-derived fuel (RDF). The plant had previously been allowed to burn up to 32t/hr, with a maximum 20% concentration of plastic. From Tuesday 21 July 2026, RDF will fuel the kiln at a maximum rate of 10t/hr and 50% plastic concentration, although the EPA's website says ‘it is not expected that [rate] will be sustained on an ongoing basis.’ Port Adelaide Enfield Council last week voted to seek ‘urgent legal advice’ about pursuing an injunction on the trial. The council also wants the government to enact 24-hour stack monitoring.
Port Adelaide Enfield mayor Claire Boan said "We have not seen nationwide data of any kind whatsoever that actually explains this is safe for our community, and that's a great concern.
It's not about closing them down. They've been there for a hundred years, for sure, but we've been here building our homes and that's really important and should be considered as well."
Adbri said that it has diverted at least 2.7Mt of waste that would have otherwise been sent to landfill since it began using alternative fuel in the early 2000s. A spokesperson said "The RDF proposed for use in the trial is a highly processed engineered fuel that must meet strict EPA standards and quality controls before it can be used."
EPA compliance director Steven Sergi said that pollutant monitoring would occur at different spots, including at the site's stack, and that there would be ‘ambient air quality’ monitoring in the community. He said data would be collected on emissions of various particle types, and of SO2 and NOx. "There's parameters set in the licence - as soon as those parameters are exceeded, particularly in relation to air quality, the trial ceases immediately," he said. Sergi added that the EPA would be conducting unannounced inspections at the site and that a report was expected within 90 days of the trial's completion.