GREENHOUSE gas emissions from the Hawkesbury City Waste Management Facility have been reduced by 6000 tonnes in 12 months.
There was also a 266 per cent increase in greenhouse gas capture and abatement at the South Windsor site during 2017, equalling 15,967 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions extracted.
These results are thanks to funding from the Federal Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative.
The grant paid for a Landfill Gas Flare to capture the gas created at the local landfill site, as well as numerous gas extraction wells taking the total number of wells to 30 from 11 previously.
- More council news: Building officially gains Old Hawkesbury Hospital title
Mayor Mary Lyons-Buckett said the funding enhanced Council’s emissions reduction program at no cost to residents.
She said the reduction during 2017 was equivalent to taking 6700 cars off the road.
“This puts the Hawkesbury in a leading position to continue the push for the reduction and prevention of greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.
“Climate change mitigation measures such as this, and reductions in our carbon footprint, will benefit our community and future generations to come.”
Since the program began in 2013, Council has recorded a reduction of over 31,500 tonnes of carbon equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.
Additional gas extraction wells are planned to be installed in future as landfill cell areas are completed.