A proposed $1.5 billion waste-to-energy incinerator near Parkes, NSW would burn up to 600,000 tonnes of Sydney’s non-recyclable waste annually to generate electricity, drawing opposition from local farmers, residents, and Wiradjuri traditional owners who fear health risks and land impacts.

Regulators say NSW emission limits are stringent and any project would require comprehensive environmental assessments, community consultation, and alignment with global best practices.

Public backing exists from some locals who argue emissions would be safe and the project would deliver economic benefits, while opposition groups contend that health and environmental risks outweigh potential gains.

The NSW government awarded the tender in 2023 and, in 2022, legislated a restricted energy-from-waste framework allowing facilities only at four locations including Parkes; construction is slated to begin in 2027 with opening planned for 2030.

Parkes Energy Recovery says emissions will stay within safe and legal limits and aims to supply electricity to about 100,000 homes, create 50 permanent jobs, and fund local community projects.

Local opposition centers on potential health and contamination risks to soil and water and threats to farming livelihoods, with residents like Graeme Somers even stating willingness to relocate if the project goes ahead.

A NSW parliamentary inquiry into energy-from-waste facilities is reviewing Parkes and Tarago sites with over 1,400 submissions and ongoing assessments of health, agricultural impacts, and waste-reduction options for greater Sydney.

Heritage work from 2019 identified scar trees and artefacts but concluded the project would not harm elements of cultural significance; a 2020 review noted modern incinerators have uncertain long-term health effects but may be less harmful than older tech.

Wiradjuri representatives and other Indigenous groups emphasize cultural and environmental impacts, linking health concerns to country and community well-being.