Taree Landfill Gas Project

The Taree Landfill Gas Project is a landfill gas recovery operation located at the Taree Waste Management Centre in Tinonee, approximately 8km southwest of Taree on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. Registered in September 2024, the project is situated within the MidCoast Council municipality, a region characterized by high rainfall and a subtropical climate. The surrounding landscape features a mix of rural residential zones, cattle grazing, and forestry, with soils in the area generally consisting of alluvial loams and heavy clays suitable for waste containment.

Operating under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2015, the project involves the installation of a new gas collection system to capture methane generated by decomposing waste. This captured gas, derived from both legacy and non-legacy waste sources, is combusted using a flare unit. This process converts potent methane into less harmful carbon dioxide, significantly reducing the facility's greenhouse gas contribution.

A key feature of this project is its commercial structure; it was established through a "carbon cutting agreement" between the proponent, LGI Limited, and MidCoast Council in August 2024. The council identified that landfill operations contributed approximately 70% of its total emissions, and this partnership allows for the installation of the gas capture infrastructure at no cost to ratepayers. Instead, the costs are recovered, and revenue is shared through the generation and sale of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). Initial phases involve drilling wells to assess gas quality, with the potential for electricity generation if gas flow rates prove sufficient in the future.