Meru Waste Management Facility Cell Six Construction Project

Construction of Landfill Cell Six at the Meru Waste Management Facility is scheduled to begin in in January 2026.

Construction of Cell Six is a key long-term waste management priority for the City and represents an investment in critical community infrastructure. Cell Six will enable the City to continue to provide compliant waste management services to the community while optimising operational efficiency.

The construction of the new cell will also allow neighbouring shires and other commercial customers to continue to dispose of their general waste at Meru for a fee which generates income for the City and helps fund future works at the facility.

Project FAQs

Why does another landfill cell need to be constructed?

The previously constructed Cell Five has been in use in 2019, however it cannot be fully ulitised until Cell Six is completed as both cells are designed and engineered to work as a connected unit (see diagram below). Construction of Cell Six will enable the City to continue to comply with the it’s Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) License.

Cross section of Cells 5 and 6

How long will Cell Six be in use?

Constructing Cell Six will allow land filling within in Cell Five to continue, optimising the remaining available air space. At the current rate of fill, the new cell will ensure landfill operations for an additional 14-16 years.

How long will construction take?

Construction will begin mid-January 2026 with completion estimated for June 2026.

Will the construction impact Meru operations?

Access the Bowerbird and Resource Recovery Station will remain unchanged during the works.


Aerail Map of Meru

How much will the project cost?

The 2025/26 Budget has allocated $5, 374,000 towards the construction of Cell Six which includes:

  • Lining the pit with clay, geosynthetic, high-density polyethylene and geotextile layers
  • Installing a pump system to remove leachate liquid to the nearby liquid waste evaporation ponds
  • Extending access roads around the cell
  • Constructing a storm water pond.

What is leachate?

Leachate is a liquid released by or water that has percolated through waste and contains some of the waste constituents. At Meru, leachate results from rainfall entering the landfill cell.

Who is undertaking the work?

Local contractor Red Dust Holdings (RDH) has been awarded the contract to construct Cell Six.