Methane Power Plant at the Stotts Creek Landfill
When food scraps and garden waste break down in a landfill, they do so without oxygen and therefore produce methane gas. Methane gas emissions into the atmosphere have 24 times more of an impact on global warming than carbon dioxide emissions.
To capture this methane, a methane gas extraction system and micro power station operates at the Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre. This system captures methane produced by the rotting vegetative matter buried in the landfill and uses it to generate electricity, which is then put into the grid.
Since commissioning in 2006, this micro power station has combusted over 4,300,000m3 of landfill gas.
You can help reduce methane gas emissions by composting your food and garden waste at home (turning a compost system helps this organic matter break down with oxygen), or by requesting a green waste bin from council, where garden prunings are kept out of landfill and instead turned into mulch.
Please note that the green waste bin is only available to the current urban service area. To find out if this service is available in your area or for more information, contact Council’s Waste Management Unit on (02) 6670 2694.
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