WOLLERT landfill will soon be producing enough clean electricity to power 8800 homes after Whittlesea council approved an expansion of its renewable power generators.
A renewable energy facility at the tip already captures gases from the landfill and converts them into power while halting their emission into the atmosphere.
But an extra four gas turbine generators will soon increase the plant’s output from nearly five megawatts to nearly nine.
LMS Generation captures methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, produced as the rubbish decomposes. As well as generating energy, the process reduces smells and the risk of fire and explosion.
A council report said that while one damaged river red gum would have to be cut down to make way for the expansion, there would be an increased supply of clean energy.
“The effective capture of greenhouse gases will assist to reduce the potential adverse environmental effects and hazards associated with the Wollert landfill,” the council’s report said.
