Wildfire Bulwer Island Project Proton Landfill Avoidance

Wildfire Bulwer Island Project Proton Landfill Avoidance is an Alternative Waste Treatment (AWT) project located at Bulwer Island, an industrial precinct situated at the mouth of the Brisbane River, approximately 15km northeast of the Brisbane CBD in Queensland. The project was registered in December 2024 and operates within a dedicated heavy industrial zone, an area historically defined by oil refineries and port facilities rather than traditional agricultural land use.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Alternative Waste Treatment) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology credits emissions reductions achieved by diverting mixed solid waste, that would otherwise decompose in a landfill and release methane, to a treatment facility. In this specific case, the project involves the construction of a new facility utilizing "Moving Injection Horizontal Gasification" (MIHG) technology. This process converts waste feedstocks into a combustible fuel substitute (syngas) and hydrogen, effectively turning landfill-bound waste into energy.

Environmentally, the region experiences a subtropical climate with high rainfall, averaging over 1,000mm annually, particularly during the summer months. While the natural soil profile of the Brisbane coastal lowlands typically consists of hydrosols (saturated soils) and alluvial clays, the specific project site is situated on highly modified, reclaimed industrial land. A notable feature of this project is its identity as "Project Proton," which aims to be a commercial demonstration of converting waste into renewable hydrogen and electricity, representing a significant shift towards circular economy practices in the region.