Construction has now come to an end at the Lithgow Solid Waste Facility in Central West NSW, where carbon abatement has been front of mind. The final piece of the construction puzzle at the waste facility was an enclosed flaring unit installed in late 2025.
Designed to extract and then combust the landfill’s methane emissions (which are 28 times more harmful to the environment and human health than carbon), the impact has been striking. So far, cuts to emissions have reached 7,491 tonnes, and more than 789,000 cubic metres of harmful biogas have been captured…in just two months.
This long-term project in collaboration with the Lithgow City Council marks the beginning of a new era in reducing environmental impact, where the byproducts of decomposing waste no longer need to create harm to the environment or the community.
With the installation of a new flaring unit, drilling 30 gas wells, and connecting more than 1,100 metres of above and below-ground piping, phase 1 is complete. With immediate and irreversible effects now in process, the results over two months are in, and these figures will continue to climb at a processing rate of 300 cubes of gas per hour, day in, day out.
Project Snapshot
Long term contract with Lithgow City Council to recover and beneficially use biogas from the Lithgow Solid Waste Facility in Central West NSW. This improves local air quality, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to the local economy.
There is No regulatory requirement to capture biogas, however ACCUs enable additional carbon abatement (above its 30% baseline) from a commercially viable flaring project under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Method.
In 2025, LGI designed and installed a customised biogas management system, including an LGI 500 biogas flare for this landfill. Council benefits from this bespoke biogas management system at no cost to Council.
LGI collaborated closely with the Council regarding the design & installation of the system. Future operations and maintenance of the biogas management system, including the monitoring and reporting services will be provided by LGI’s in-house team.
Biogas captured
Carbon abatement
Seedlings planted
ACCUs created
“Reducing harmful methane gas emissions is a big win for our community and the environment. It’s a problem LGI is helping us address and is another example of council’s commitment to continuous improvement and best practice waste management.”
– Cassandra Coleman, Mayor, Lithgow City Council
“It’s clear Lithgow City Council and the local community are serious about protecting the local environment and economy while transitioning to a sustainable future.”
– Jarryd Doran, CEO, LGI
A Partnership Built for Long-Term Impact
Unflared methane biogas from landfills accounts for half of Lithgow City Council’s carbon emissions. To see such a dramatic shift in these numbers now and well into the future, coming in at no cost to ratepayers, is a testament to what can be achieved when a partnership of this kind is formed.
LGI will continue total management of the system, including monitoring, reporting, maintenance, and expansion, to lock in maximum safety, performance and streamlined ACCU generation.
This customised system, including an LGI 500 biogas flare:
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Creates a 100% increase in methane capture capacity
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Converts methane into less harmful CO2 to cut greenhouse gas emissions
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Improves local air quality and reduces landfill odours
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Helps meet 2030 emissions targets
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Provides an ongoing royalty share of ACCUs to Council
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Was delivered at no cost to ratepayers
Looking Ahead
LGI collaborated closely with Council on the design and installation of the system, and that’s not going to change moving forward. Future operations, maintenance, reporting and ACCU management will be provided by LGI’s in-house team, with a desire to one day expand the site to include renewable power generation.
With the cumulative impacts to look forward to, the Lithgow City Council is certainly leading the way towards a cleaner and brighter future for all who live and work there.
