Forest Road Landfill Gas Project

Forest Road Landfill Gas Project is a waste management and energy generation project located at the Forest Road Waste Management Centre, approximately 5km west of Tamworth in New South Wales. Registered in April 2016, the project is operated by Tamworth Regional Council. The facility serves as the primary waste disposal site for the region, where the project activities focus on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing municipal solid waste.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Electricity Generation from Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology involves the installation of a system to capture landfill gas (primarily methane) generated by the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste. Instead of allowing this potent greenhouse gas to vent into the atmosphere or simply flaring it, the captured gas is combusted in a generator to produce renewable electricity. This process converts the methane into carbon dioxide, which has a significantly lower global warming potential, while simultaneously providing a power source.

The Tamworth region is a major agricultural hub known for poultry, cattle grazing, and broadacre cropping. The area experiences a warm temperate climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 670mm, and the landscape is characterized by red-brown earths and clay soils typical of the New England North West slopes.

Notably, the project recently transitioned its methodology in December 2024 to specifically reflect electricity generation. It has also successfully completed its Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC781171) with the Australian Government, which was active from May 2017 to December 2024, delivering over 79,000 tonnes of abatement. The site operates under strict environmental protection licenses to manage leachate and air quality.