JBS Scone Wastewater Biogas Emission Reduction

JBS Scone Wastewater Biogas Emission Reduction is a waste treatment project located at the JBS Australia abattoir in Scone, New South Wales. The facility is situated on the outskirts of the Scone township, which lies in the Upper Hunter Valley approximately 25 kilometers north of Muswellbrook. The project was registered in January 2022 and involves the installation of covered anaerobic digesters to replace deep open anaerobic lagoons that were previously used to treat industrial wastewater.

The Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Wastewater methodology allows proponents to earn carbon credits by capturing methane generated during the decomposition of organic matter in wastewater. Standard requirements involve installing gas-tight covers or digesters to collect biogas, which must then be destroyed through combustion, either by flaring or by using it as a fuel source to generate energy. In this specific project, the captured biogas is redirected to onsite boilers, replacing the facility's reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) for heat generation.

Scone is widely known as the "Horse Capital of Australia," with the surrounding region dominated by thoroughbred breeding, cattle grazing, and agriculture. The area typically experiences a temperate climate with moderate rainfall, averaging around 600mm to 650mm annually. The local soils are often characterized as Chromosols and Dermosols, which are texture-contrast soils with clay subsoils suitable for the region's extensive pasture and grazing activities.

The project was developed in partnership with Energy360 and Northmore Gordon Environmental. Notably, the system is designed to eliminate approximately 23,000 to 28,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year. In March 2025, the project underwent a methodology variation to Compilation No. 3 of the determination, ensuring alignment with updated regulatory standards. The initiative contributes to JBS Australia's broader corporate goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2040.