Central Coast Council is successfully reducing its carbon footprint by generating electricity through the extraction and combustion of landfill gas at its waste management facilities.

This advanced approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from escaping into the atmosphere produced enough renewable energy to power more than 4500 local homes last financial year.

Council Unit Manager Waste Services and Business Development, Andrew Pearce said there were four electricity generation plants operated under contract helping turn methane emissions into renewable energy.

“Landfill gas is a natural consequence of organic waste decomposing at any solid waste management site,” Mr Pearce said.

“Half the gas generated is carbon dioxide with the other half methane, which is around 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.

“The generators at our waste management facilities produced approximately 28,000 megawatt-hours of electricity last financial year, and prevented around 154,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (greenhouse emissions) from escaping into the atmosphere.”

Mayor Jane Smith said the gas extraction was an excellent example of Council implementing real actions to reduce climate change.

“I am proud to see Council’s commitment to more sustainable waste practices by turning waste to renewable energy,” Mayor Smith.

“With methane a major contributing factor to global warming, this venture will continue to provide a major contribution to reducing Council’s carbon footprint.

“It is important Council takes a leading role in helping to mitigate the effects of climate change and this is just the start of more innovative initiatives we will implement.”

Council endorsed a Draft Climate Change Policy in August 2018, a framework of key actions to contribute to meeting the Green theme of the Community Strategic Plan and NSW State Climate Change Policy direction to achieve a net-zero emissions by 2050.

“We need real actions and I am looking forward to seeing how the community respond to and engage with this Policy as we work together to find the best way to tackle the effects of climate change and make positive change here on the Coast, “ Mayor Smith said.

“As part of the consultation we want to hear what concerns our community have about climate change so we can address them together.

“I strongly encourage residents to complete our online survey on climate change before it closes on Friday 7 December, and register interest in our upcoming series of workshops to be held early next year.”

Visit yourvoiceourcoast.com/climatechange to complete the short online survey, register for future workshops, and sign up to stay informed.