The Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) has launched a decisive initiative to tackle its largest single source of carbon emissions. By partnering with LGI Limited, the Council is converting the Warwick Waste Management Facility from a passive methane emitter into a controlled carbon abatement project.
Prior to this project, unflared methane from the landfill contributed approximately 65 per cent of the Council’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The new infrastructure, officially opened in November 2025, directly addresses this challenge through a sophisticated extraction network.
LGI installed 12 active gas extraction wells, drilled to a depth of 40 metres, connected by a complex web of underground piping. This system channels biogas (comprising roughly 50 per cent methane) into a dedicated enclosed flaring unit. The result is a measurable, immediate, and irreversible reduction in harmful emissions.
Biogas captured
Carbon abatement
Seedings planted
Cars off the road
Crucially, this environmental upgrade is delivered at no cost to ratepayers. LGI funds the entire capital and operational expenditure. Instead of costing the community, the project generates revenue through the creation and sale of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), providing the Council with a royalty stream while simultaneously managing the environmental risk of the site.
Reducing methane gas emissions is a win for both the community and the environment. Unflared methane biogas from landfills is one of the largest carbon emission sources from Council, accounting for approximately 65 per cent of emissions. The landfill gas flaring project is part of our broader effort to ensure the Warwick landfill operates in an environmentally responsible way.
This project will be delivered at no cost to ratepayers, with LGI paying to install, operate and upgrade the system. There is also the potential for royalty income over the life of the project from the ACCUs, so this is a win-win for both our hip pocket and our natural environment.
– Cr Sarah Deane, Portfolio Councillor for Healthy Communities, SDRC
Key Benefits & Strategic Outcomes
The Warwick Landfill Gas Abatement Project delivers a comprehensive suite of environmental, financial, and operational advantages, securing a win-win outcome for the Council and the community.
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High-Impact DecarbonisationDestroys methane, which is ~28 times more potent than carbon dioxide, directly lowering the region's carbon footprint.
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Financial ResilienceRemoves the capital burden from the Council while creating a new revenue source via the carbon market.
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Community HealthActive vacuum extraction minimises fugitive gas migration, resulting in a "less gassy" facility with reduced local odours.
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Tailored EngineeringProves that world-class gas capture engineering is viable for small regional landfills, not just major metropolitan sites.
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Data CollectionNew data collected on waste composition, leachate levels, waste decomposition status and more enhances future landfill management.
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Modular Flare DesignFor easier swapping to larger flaring capacity as gas volumes increase.
