Tamworth Regional Organics Recycling Facility (Revoked)

The Tamworth Regional Organics Recycling Facility (Revoked) was a waste diversion project located at the Forest Road Waste Management Centre, approximately 4km northeast of the Tamworth CBD in New South Wales. Registered in November 2016, the project was designed to operate under the Source Separated Organic Waste methodology. However, the project was revoked in April 2021 under Section 30 of the CFI Rule, which typically indicates a voluntary revocation by the proponent.

The project aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting organic waste, such as garden and food scraps, from the general landfill stream. Under the Source Separated Organic Waste methodology, eligible organic material is separated at the point of generation (e.g., via municipal green bins) and processed using approved technologies like enclosed composting or anaerobic digestion. This prevents the organic matter from decaying anaerobically in a landfill, a process that would otherwise generate significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

The Tamworth region is a major agricultural hub on the North West Slopes of NSW, characterized by a temperate climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 640mm. The surrounding landscape supports diverse land uses, including sheep and cattle grazing, poultry farming, and cropping. Soils in the area are variable but often include fertile red-brown earths and cracking clays, particularly in the nearby Liverpool Plains.

While this specific carbon project was revoked without issuing any Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), Tamworth Regional Council has since advanced its organics strategy. In 2020, planning approval was granted for a new, larger-scale Organics Recycling Facility at Gidley (15km northwest of Tamworth), intended to process food and garden organics (FOGO) to meet NSW government 2030 targets. The revocation of the 2016 Forest Road project likely coincided with this strategic shift toward the new, dedicated facility at Gidley.