More than nine million cubic metres of landfill gas has been destroyed from the Whylandra Waste and Recycling Centre, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The destruction of landfill gas began in December 2012, and was part of council’s objective to reduce carbon emissions, Dubbo Regional Council manager civil infrastructure and solid waste Steve Clayton said. There are currently 25 landfill gas extraction wells at the waste facility, which allows the gas- 50 per cent of which is methane- to flow at an average of 460 cubic metres-squared per hour. The annual progress report of the landfill gas capture system was presented to council at the November Works and Services Committee meeting. “Over nine million cubic metres of landfill gas has been destroyed since pumping commenced in December 2012 which would have otherwise entered the atmosphere,” Mr Clayton said in the report. “This is the equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions reduction that would result from taking 16,563 cars off the road for one year.” The wells, which are operating at the maximum standard, will last until 2021, Mr Clayton said. He said the ongoing benefit of the landfill gas capture system included not only the decline in the carbon emissions, but on a larger scale, the project’s contribution to Australia’s international carbon reduction targets. Australia’s carbon reduction target for 2030 is for emissions to be 26 to 28 per cent below the 2005 levels. A similar goal was set for Australia to reduce its emissions by five per cent below the 200 levels by 2020. Projections by the Australian government show the goal will be surpassed by about 78 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Mr Clayton said council was continuing to pursue environmentally sustainable management practices.
