Know what your plant can accept - and where its outputs can go.

Define every input stream

Describe the source, composition, expected throughput, delivery method and contamination controls. Record whether the material is a waste or another regulated product under the relevant jurisdiction. A marketing description such as “clean organics” does not replace a classification or acceptance specification.

Check the complete material pathway

Shelby recommends mapping supplier, transporter, reception, treatment, storage and final use in one evidence package. Identify the responsible party at each stage. An existing plant adding a new material may need its permissions reviewed even where the proposed equipment is familiar.

Australian examples

Victoria’s EPA publishes guidance on safe digestate production and use under its environmental framework. NSW uses resource recovery orders and exemptions for specified beneficial reuse; the conditions apply to the relevant material and use. These are jurisdiction-specific pathways, not a national approval for all digestate. [[ Environment Protection Authority Victoria, Safe production and use of digestate guidelines ](https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/safe-production-and-use-digestate-guidelines), [ NSW Environment Protection Authority, Resource recovery framework ](https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Your-environment/Recycling-and-reuse/resource-recovery-framework)]

Coordinate input and output decisions

A new feedstock may improve gas production while changing the quality or lawful destination of digestate. Check both sides before signing supply terms. The same applies to co-digestion, depackaging residues and changes in throughput. Keep product-market assumptions consistent with the accepted material list.

Prepare an acceptance register

For each material, record supplier, source process, classification, sampling requirements, permitted volume, treatment needs and approved output route. Mark unresolved questions and the authority responsible for answering them. This can reduce repeated information requests while preserving each regulator’s decision-making role.

Frequently asked questions

Does permission to operate a digester approve every feedstock?

No. Check the facility’s conditions and the requirements applying to each proposed material and activity.

Do NSW resource recovery rules apply nationally?

No. They are NSW arrangements; other jurisdictions require their own checks.

Can an existing plant change its feedstock mix?

Potentially, but technical suitability, permission conditions and effects on output quality need review before the change.

Sources & References

• Environment Protection Authority Victoria, Safe production and use of digestate guidelines

  Publication: 2024-01-29

  Observation period: Environmental framework and digestate guidance

  Relevant page / section: Victorian digestate production and use guidance

  Last link / title verification: 2026-10-11

  Publisher link checked; individual claims, costs and regulatory applicability still require review.

  High for published guidance; check current instruments and project conditions

• NSW Environment Protection Authority, Resource recovery framework

  Publication: Date not verified

  Observation period: Framework and linked orders/exemptions; instrument-specific dates

  Relevant page / section: Claim-level locator not yet verified

  Last link / title verification: 2026-10-11

  Publisher link checked; individual claims, costs and regulatory applicability still require review.

  High for framework; an order applies only within its scope and conditions

• Shelby Bioenergy, Shelby’s National Renewable Gas Policy consultation response

  Publication: 2026-10

  Observation period: October 2026

  Relevant page / section: Supplied company position

  Last link / title verification: Not verified

  Company position / supplied material, not independent evidence.

  Proposals and scenarios, not adopted policy or market offers.