Grafton Regional Landfill landfill gas capture and combustion project

Grafton Regional Landfill landfill gas capture and combustion project is a landfill gas project located at the Grafton Regional Landfill, approximately 10km south of the regional city of Grafton in New South Wales. It was registered in October 2014 and operates on an active municipal waste management facility. The surrounding Clarence Valley region is known for diverse agriculture, predominantly sugarcane production, beef cattle grazing, and commercial forestry operations. The area experiences a subtropical climate with high annual rainfall averaging over 1,000mm, and local soils range from heavy alluvial clays near the river flats to lighter sandy loams and red alluvium on the higher ridges.

Landfill gas projects operate by actively capturing methane generated from decomposing organic waste at landfill sites and combusting it. Standard requirements for this methodology involve installing gas extraction wells, underground piping, and enclosed flaring units or electricity generators to convert harmful methane into carbon dioxide, which drastically reduces its global warming potential. This specific transitioning project captures and combusts gas generated from both legacy and non-legacy municipal waste.

Originally established and managed by the Clarence Valley Council, the project proponent was officially varied to specialist contractor LGI Limited in January 2025. A major infrastructure upgrade was recently completed, adding 12 vertical gas extraction wells, five gas collection lines, and over 800 metres of underground pipe connected to a high-efficiency enclosed flaring unit. This partnership operates under a strategic revenue-sharing model, allowing the Council to receive a royalty share of the generated Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) at minimal cost to local ratepayers. These credits can then be sold for regional revenue or retired to help the Council meet its long-term net-zero emission targets.