City of Ballarat manager of economic infrastructure delivery Angelique Lush said several energy facilities are being considered for Ballarat’s green waste system, but it is biodigestion that appears to lead the way.

“What we’re looking at is identifying how to process the green waste,” Ms Lush said.

“When we identify those options, we’ll assume the best model to go with.

“There’s a range of options we’re looking at, but an anaerobic digester (biodigester) is looking like a really good model.”

Ms Lush said a biodigester’s ability to turn both food and green waste into energy means it will create a bigger diversion of waste from the Smythesdale landfill.

In layman’s terms, a biodigester collects organic waste for the production of gases to fire a turbine or similar engine to create energy.

Ms Lush said at least 50 per cent of general household rubbish can be considered green waste.

She said that a biodigestion system at the Ballarat West Employment Zone would be capable of powering 1000 households yearly with renewable energy.

She said it could also save between 15,000-20,000 tonnes of green waste to landfill every year.

However, Bendigo is opting for a different solution to the disposal of green waste.

City of Greater Bendigo manager of waste services Simon Clay said tenders are out for two commercial compost companies near Shepparton to take green waste from its trial run.

Bendigo’s green waste trial begins on September 10, with 2800 houses presented with green bins for organic waste over a six-month period.

Mr Clay said the strain on Bendigo’s landfills is significant and estimates that the Eaglehawk Eco Centre landfill is just seven years away from capacity.

He said the composting process involved loading green waste into a concrete bunker for roughly one week with circulating air at temperates of 60-65 degrees to accelerate the decomposition.

Green waste would then be sent to open wind rows to mature for six to eight weeks.

Finally, the product would be screened for oversize pieces, then sold for agricultural purposes.

The City of Greater Geelong has used a similar system since 2003, which is understood to divert about 34,000 tonnes of green waste from landfill annually.

City of Ballarat chief executive Anthony Schinck said composting green waste was a consideration for Ballarat, but more likely as a secondary, short term measure.

Mr Schinck also said minimising travel for garbage trucks is a priority, making a biodigestion plant in the BWEZ an attractive option.