City of Greater Geraldton to investigate methane gas flaring at Meru tip to help achieve net zero by 2030

The City of Greater Geraldton plans to trial a gas flaring project at the Meru waste facility in a bid to speed up its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2030.

Gas flaring is a method to reduce carbon emission from legacy landfill sites which involves burning methane to convert it to carbon dioxide and water vapour.

Mayor Shane Van Styn said the Meru waste disposal facility was the council’s largest producer of carbon emissions and was the greatest opportunity for mitigation.

The investigation into gas flaring is the result of recommendations in the City’s Corporate Climate Change Mitigation Plan (CCCMP), which was endorsed by the council in November 2021.

The plan forecast the project would save 17,795 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year if the City implemented it by 2025.

Gas pumping trials are scheduled to happen before Christmas.

The City has allocated $100,000 to the project in its 2023-24 capital works budget, alongside transitioning to a green energy provider.

It will also add four hybrid vehicles to its council fleet.

It comes after the City declared a climate emergency in December 2020. The CCCMP is scheduled to be reviewed and updated in November.