Bioreactor Landfills

Veolia Environmental Services' commitment to innovation and the environment is evidenced by its development of Bioreactor Technology at two sites: Woodlawn - 250 km south-east of Sydney in NSW, and Ti Tree Bioenergy near Ipswich in south-east Queensland.

Bioreactors - one of the leading forms of alternative waste technology - are purpose built facilities designed to accelerate the decomposition process of residual waste and maximise the capture of biogas yields for conversion into green electricity.

This is achieved by placing an extensive network of pipes through the waste; researchers then analyse and control water, leachate recirculation, acid levels, and temperature and microbe levels in each bioreactor cell.

The rapid decomposition of the waste and biogas capture expedites the stabilisation of the waste and greatly reduces the escape of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Woodlawn (NSW)

The Woodlawn Bioreactor is located 250km south of Sydney, near Goulburn in New South Wales. Previously a copper, lead and zinc open-cut mine, the void is now used as an in-situ bioreactor, since 2005. Over this time, the bioreactor has taken in over 2.2 million tonnes of waste from the Sydney metropolitan area and Goulburn surrounds; as well as producing up to 3MWh of green electricity using the methane created by the resultant waste.

Putrescible waste is transported to Woodlawn by rail from Sydney after being containerised at Veolia Environmental Services’ transfer terminal situated in Clyde NSW. The Clyde transfer terminal is a state-of-the-art waste transport inter-modal link, incorporating dust suppression systems, three-tier odour management safeguards and noise barriers; here the waste is unloaded by waste collection vehicles and compacted into shipping containers for transport by rail down to the Woodlawn Bioreactor; making it the most advanced facility of its kind in Australia.

Aside from generating green electricity from waste at Woodlawn, Veolia Environmental Services is also undertaking mine rehabilitation works and progressing with innovative wind farm, aquaculture and horticulture projects at the site.

Woodlawn Bioreactor

619 Collector Road,
Tarago, NSW 2580

PH: (02) 4844 6262

Fax: (02) 4844 6355

Ti Tree Bioenergy (QLD)

The Ti Tree Bioenergy facility is located in a former open cut coal mine served by excellent transport links, including the adjacent existing rail infrastructure. Its location makes it ideally suited to provide technically-advanced waste management solutions to the expanding population of south-east Queensland.

This fully engineered and contained facility uses bioreactor technology to rapidly stabilise the waste, generating green renewable electricity and helping to rehabilitate the open cut mine site.

The degrading waste mass produces landfill gas which is mostly methane. This gas is captured through a network of horizontal and vertical gas lines and fed to the power station. Specially designed engines utilise the gas as a fuel source, generating green electricity used to power homes and businesses in the region. Over the next 10 years green power generation is expected to increase to 10 MWh which is equivalent to powering over 12,000 homes; or removing 90,000 cars from the roads; or planting 1.4 million trees.

Take a detailed guided tour of the Ti Tree Bioenergy facility.

Ti-Tree Bioenergy Facility

Champions Way,
Willowbank, QLD 4306

PH: (07) 5464 3404

Fax: (07) 5464 3386