Stawell Landfill Gas Flaring Project

The Stawell Landfill Gas Flaring Project is a landfill gas abatement project located at the Cleanaway Stawell Landfill, approximately 5km southwest of the township of Stawell in the Grampians region of Victoria. Registered in June 2022, the project operates within the boundary of the active landfill site on Pomonal Road. The surrounding region is characterized by a mix of agricultural land use, primarily sheep grazing and cropping, as well as historic and active gold mining operations which define the local landscape.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology generates carbon credits by installing gas collection systems, such as vertical wells and horizontal trenches, to capture methane generated by decomposing organic waste. The captured gas is then combusted using a flare, converting the potent methane into carbon dioxide and water, thereby significantly reducing the global warming potential of the emissions.

Environmentally, the Stawell region experiences a temperate climate with moderate rainfall, averaging approximately 520mm annually, and distinct dry summers. The local geology typically consists of sedimentary soils, often featuring light grey loams over clay subsoils, which are characteristic of the Victorian Goldfields.

The project proponent, Cleanaway Solid Waste Pty Ltd, has actively upgraded the site's infrastructure, with reports indicating that a new landfill gas extraction system and flare became operational in November 2022. This system processes gas from both legacy and non-legacy waste cells. The site has also been the subject of regulatory focus, with Cleanaway implementing odour management strategies, such as odour curtains and leachate pond aerators, to address community concerns and meet EPA Victoria requirements.