Maryborough landfill capacity expanded

A new cell is being developed at the Maryborough landfill on Saltwater Creek Road that will hold more than 250,000 cubic metres of rubbish.

Fraser Coast Regional Councillor David Lee said it would take about nine months to build the 2.8-hectare cell, weather permitting.

“This new cell will increase the life of the landfill. The airspace in the new cell will take about three years to fill, or longer if residents continue to recycle and divert waste from landfill,” he said.

“In 2022, almost 175,000 tonnes of waste was brought to the site, but less than 80,000 tonnes went into landfill with the rest recycled.

“Council will start work on the next cell, the tenth on the site, before the new cell is full with the Maryborough landfill expected to have about 30 years of working life left.”

Cr Lee said the new cell design was being developed using best practice guidelines and included multiple barrier layers to contain the waste.

“The engineered liner ensures that leachate (water mixed with material from the rubbish) does not leak into the environment, with the liquid collected and treated,” he said.

Cr Lee said pipe work would also be laid so any landfill gas could be pumped to the on-site power station.

“Methane gas generated within the landfill is collected, treated and harnessed by an on-site power plant to generate electricity,” he said.

“The landfill gas to renewable energy plant on site, which is owned and operated by LGI Limited, generated almost 12,000 megawatts for the local electricity grid in 2022/23.

“That plant delivers power to more than 3,200 homes within the region and is expected to generate electricity for the next 20 years.

“Council is committed to planning for the future, managing and maintaining our assets, and providing focussed service delivery for our community, which is what the work at the Maryborough Landfill is all about.”