Barretta Landfill Gas Project

The Barretta Landfill Gas Project is a waste emission reduction initiative located at the Barretta Waste Management Facility, approximately 20 kilometers south of Hobart, Tasmania. Operated by the Kingborough Council, the project was registered in August 2015 and focuses on managing the environmental impact of the now-closed landfill cells situated on a ridge near North West Bay. The facility has since been transformed into a modern waste transfer station and recycling centre, serving the Kingborough municipality.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology awards carbon credits for the capture and combustion of methane generated by decomposing organic waste. In this specific project, a gas collection system extracts landfill gas (LFG) from the capped waste cells. The captured gas is then combusted, typically via a flare, converting the potent methane (CH4) into carbon dioxide (CO2), which has a significantly lower global warming potential. This process prevents the passive release of methane into the atmosphere.

The Barretta facility is situated in a cool temperate region characterized by distinct seasons and moderate rainfall, typically averaging between 600mm and 900mm annually. The natural geology of the area is dominated by Permian mudstones, which generally yield podzolic soils (such as Kurosols) consisting of sandy loam topsoils over clay subsoils. However, the immediate project area is highly modified, featuring a specialized Geosynthetic Clay Liner (GCL) installed in 2015 to cap the legacy waste and manage leachate and gas migration.

An interesting feature of the Barretta facility is its broader focus on sustainability beyond just gas capture. Following the closure of the landfill cells, the site was rehabilitated to include a "Re-Use Shop" and a solar power array, further reducing the council's carbon footprint. The project has successfully completed a Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC354122) with the Clean Energy Regulator, helping the Kingborough Council offset emissions equivalent to thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide.