South Cardup Landfill Gas Project

The South Cardup Landfill Gas Project is a landfill gas recovery and electricity generation initiative located at the South Cardup Landfill, approximately 45km south-southeast of Perth, Western Australia. Registered in August 2012, the project operates within the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, a region characteristically known for its peri-urban agricultural land use, including grazing and historic quarrying operations.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Electricity Generation from Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology incentivizes the installation and operation of gas collection systems that capture methane, a potent greenhouse gas generated by decomposing organic waste, and combust it to generate renewable electricity. By converting methane into carbon dioxide and energy, the project significantly reduces the global warming potential of the emissions while contributing baseload power to the local grid.

The South Cardup facility is situated in the foothills of the Darling Scarp, an area defined by a Mediterranean climate with wet winters and dry summers. The local environment features soils often rich in clay and shale, evidenced by the site's history as a shale pit for brickworks before its conversion to a landfill. This geological profile helps contain leachate but necessitates careful management of surface water and gas migration.

This project is notable for being associated with the first privately owned and operated landfill to accept general municipal waste in Western Australia. The proponent, LMS Energy, is Australia's largest carbon abatement company and manages a vast portfolio of similar bioenergy projects. The project has successfully transitioned through multiple versions of the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) methodologies, ensuring its continued compliance and crediting through to 2026.