Grafton Regional Landfill landfill gas capture and combustion project

Grafton Regional Landfill landfill gas capture and combustion project is a waste sector project located in the locality of Elland, approximately 20 kilometres south of the city of Grafton in New South Wales. Registered in October 2014, the project operates within the boundary of the Grafton Regional Landfill (Armidale Road). The surrounding Clarence Valley region is predominantly rural, supporting land uses such as beef cattle grazing, forestry, and sugar cane cultivation in the lower river flats.

The project operates under the Landfill Gas methodology, which incentivises the installation of gas collection systems to capture methane generated by decomposing waste. Under standard requirements, the project must collect landfill gas that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere and combust it, typically via a flaring device or electricity generator, to convert the methane into less potent carbon dioxide. This specific project involves a system of vertical gas extraction wells and collection lines connected to an enclosed flaring unit.

Environmentally, the Grafton region is classified as subtropical with a high, summer-dominant rainfall pattern, receiving an average of over 1,000mm annually. The terrain in the wider area features a mix of soil types, ranging from heavy alluvial clays on creek flats to red chromosols and podzolic soils on the hillsides. The presence of clay soils is typical for landfill siting as it provides a natural barrier to leachate.

A significant operational update occurred in early 2025 when the project participant formally changed from the Clarence Valley Council to LGI Limited. Following this transition, LGI commissioned major upgrades, including the installation of 12 new vertical gas wells, which reportedly doubled the site's methane capture rate. While the project currently flares the captured gas, LGI has noted the potential to transition to renewable power generation in the future. The project previously held a carbon abatement contract (CAC648508) with the Australian Government for 45,000 tonnes of abatement, which has been successfully completed.