The Advanced Resource Recovery Centre (ARRC) is the most significant waste and resource recovery infrastructure project ever undertaken on the Gold Coast.

ARRC is a long-term, integrated precinct designed to transform how waste is managed across the city and region. It will support a shift away from reliance on landfill, increase local recycling and organics processing capacity, while creating new opportunities for innovation, jobs and industry growth within the circular economy. The precinct is being delivered in stages to address the city’s key streams of waste – starting with organics (green bin), followed by improved recycling (yellow bin) and planning for future energy recovery to manage non-recyclable or “residual” waste (red bin) in a way that aligns with environmental and community expectations.

ARRC is owned by the City of Gold Coast and is being delivered for the community with a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility, value-for-money and transparent engagement with residents, industry and stakeholders.

Precinct model

The Advanced Resource Recovery Centre is a strategically planned precinct that reimagines how waste is treated and resources are recovered – from household bins to industrial processes. It aligns with the draft Queensland Waste Strategy 2025 - 2030 and emerging national waste and circular economy directions.

ARRC’s precinct model brings together multiple facilities in one integrated ecosystem that maximises recovery, supports industry participation and encourages innovation. The model is informed by extensive technical analysis and engagement with global and local partners.

Key elements of the precinct include:

• ARRC Organics: The first component – and operational since 2025 – transforming garden and food organics into high-quality compost to keep valuable nutrients in local use.
• ARRC Recycling: Planned facilities to improve local recovery of plastics, glass, paper and other recyclables, including a partnership with private company VISY to support on-site glass remanufacturing.
• ARRC Energy: Planning for environmentally regulated and technology-appropriate approaches to managing residual waste.
• ARRC Hub and Innovation Park: Supporting community education, industry collaboration, research and solutions development for emerging and problematic waste streams.

Benefits for the community

The Gold Coast is one of Australia’s fastest growing cities. With landfill capacity limited and waste volumes increasing, new infrastructure is needed to protect local amenity, reduce emissions, manage costs to ratepayers and support sustainable development.

ARRC will:

• reduce reliance on landfill disposal
• increase local capacity to process organics and recyclables
• support new industry and jobs in the region
• help keep trucks and emissions off public roads
• position the Gold Coast as an international leader in resource recovery and circular economy practice.

Location

ARRC Organics is located in Yatala, while the ARRC Precinct will be situated on City-owned land Stapylton.

Community and engagement

The City has undertaken early engagement with people living and working near the proposed precinct and broader Gold Coast community to shape how ARRC is planned and designed. A Community Reference Group (CRG) provides ongoing input, representing local residents, businesses and stakeholders.

ARRC’s engagement approach emphasises transparency and two-way dialogue, sharing information early, listening to feedback and incorporating insights into project development. Further opportunities will be available for community involvement as ARRC progresses through planning and delivery.

Project status

With ARRC Organics up and running, planning for the ARRC Precinct is being progressed in line with the project timeline. Early design work, planning and environmental assessments and approvals, procurement pathway development and community engagement are underway.