Toowoomba Waste Management Centre - Landfill Gas Project - 2019

Toowoomba Waste Management Centre - Landfill Gas Project - 2019 is a landfill gas electricity generation project located at the Cranley landfill site, approximately 6 kilometers northwest of the Toowoomba CBD in Queensland. Registered on January 13, 2020, the project is operated by LGI Limited, having transitioned from the Toowoomba Regional Council. It focuses on the management of legacy and non-legacy waste at the Council’s principal waste facility.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Electricity Generation from Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology credits the abatement achieved by capturing methane, a potent greenhouse gas generated by decomposing organic waste, and combusting it in an electricity generation unit. By converting methane into less harmful carbon dioxide and water vapour, and simultaneously generating renewable energy, the project reduces atmospheric emissions and displaces fossil-fuel-based grid electricity.

The Toowoomba region, situated on the crest of the Great Dividing Range, is characterized by a subtropical highland climate with average annual rainfall between 700mm and 900mm. The area is renowned for its fertile soils, predominantly deep volcanic red ferrosols and black cracking clays, which support the extensive agricultural activities of the surrounding Darling Downs. While the immediate project site is a waste management facility, the broader region is a mix of urban, industrial, and agricultural land uses.

A notable feature of this project is its "circular economy" integration. In December 2022, LGI Limited commissioned a 1MW renewable energy power station at the site. This generator supplies electricity "behind the meter" to the nearby Wetalla Water Reclamation Facility, covering a significant portion of the sewage treatment plant's energy needs. This setup allows the Council to power its waste treatment operations using energy derived from its own waste, significantly reducing operating costs and grid reliance.