Lithgow City Council has slashed (CO2e) emissions by 7,491 tonnes and captured more than 789,000 m3 of harmful biogas in just two months, the equivalent of planting 125,000 seedlings for the next decade.
The Lithgow Landfill Gas Project, a carbon-cutting partnership between Lithgow City Council and LGI Limited (LGI), will deliver extraordinary long-term results for the environment and the local community, with Lithgow City Council and local ratepayers receiving a share of the Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) revenue generated by reducing landfill gas emissions.
The project sees LGI recover biogas from the Lithgow Solid Waste Facility and reduce methane emissions via an enclosed flaring unit. This methane abatement approach is measurable, immediate and irreversible.
Lithgow City Council Mayor, Cassandra Coleman said the project supports Council’s commitment to meeting the needs and priorities of the local community by delivering highest value services and infrastructure.
“Reducing harmful methane gas emissions is a big win for our community and the environment,” Cr Coleman said.
“The carbon cutting partnership reduces emissions, improves air quality, decreases the risk of odour, and creates a revenue stream for Lithgow City Council.
“Unflared methane biogas from landfills accounts for half of Lithgow City Council’s carbon emissions.
“It’s a problem LGI is helping us address and is another example of Council’s commitment to continuous improvement and best practice waste management.”
The project was built and commissioned at minimal cost to ratepayers, with LGI paying to design, build, operate, and maintain the landfill gas flaring system at the Lithgow Solid Waste Facility.
LGI CEO, Jarryd Doran said the partnership with Lithgow City Council will deliver long term, meaningful environmental outcomes.
“Phase one of the project is complete and included the installation of a new flaring unit, the drilling of 30 gas wells and connecting more than 1,100 metres of below and above ground pipes to the flare,” Mr Doran said.
“It’s clear Lithgow City Council and the local community are serious about protecting the local environment and economy while transitioning to a sustainable future.”
LGI works extensively with other local government areas in New South Wales to capture biogas, decrease emissions and reduce the state’s carbon footprint. Small, regional landfill biogas projects, including the operation at the Lithgow Solid Waste Facility, drastically reduce emissions for communities while helping local, state and federal governments achieve their emissions targets.
Partnerships with multiple New South Wales councils have allowed LGI to reduce (CO2e) emissions by more than 2.1 million tonnes, which is the equivalent of planting 35 million seedlings for the next decade.
Since 2013, more than 222 million m3 of biogas has been captured at 12 different New South Wales sites, with 343,000 ACCUs created.