When landfill gas is combusted in a flare, hydrogen sulphide is converted (oxidised) to sulphur dioxide, with nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. A detailed air quality assessment has been undertaken which considers all of these potential emission pathways, and pollutants noted above. The preliminary findings of the air quality impact assessment indicate that the concentrations of all pollutants assessed are below the NSW Environment Protection Authority air quality criteria, at all residential and industrial locations surrounding the Eastern Creek Recycling Ecology Park. Health and safety, environmental and sustainability benefits Overall, LFG flaring and generation projects significantly improve the environment because of the significant methane emission reductions and supporting the achievement of air pollutant reductions. The proposed permanent flare at Eastern Creek REP will result in approximately 265,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent avoided each year, which equates to an annual greenhouse gas emission reduction of 68 percent. Flaring LFG to manage landfill gas destroys most of the non-methane organic compounds (including air pollutants) that are present at low concentrations in landfill gas, which reduces possible health risks. A summary of other key benefits of the proposed landfill gas capture project are: The capture of a large proportion of LFG; Allows the treatment by combustion of the captured LFG, which: oxidises methane (CH4) to carbon dioxide (CO2), thereby reducing the greenhouse gas impact of those emissions; and oxidises odorous gases (such as H2S) to less-odorous compounds. What is the ass

BINGO is currently planning for three projects on the Eastern Creek site. 

• Recycling Infrastructure Optimisation Project: a State Significant Development (SSD) application to increase the throughput of the REP for recycling purposes. Click here to view project details.
• Western Operational Area Site Improvements: an application to modify the current approval for the Western Operational Area along the boundary facing Ropes Creek. Click here to view project details.
• Landfill Gas Capture Project:  an application for a permanent and sustainable flare system to manage any residual gas within the landfill was approved by DPE in March 2022. 

BINGO have recently identified the need to relocate the approved permanent flare/s compound to improve design, operational and environmental outcomes. The permanent flare/s infrastructure at the approved location is in the final stages of design and has not yet been constructed. An alternate location has been identified on the opposite side of the landfill as shown in the figure below.

We thank everyone who attended the community webinars in November 2021 and for those who have provided feedback either in the session or through submissions to us.  We have also been speaking with our immediate neighbors to understand their feedback. We are now considering this feedback before lodging our applications. 

There will be future opportunities to provide feedback on both the Recycling Infrastructure Optimisation Project and the Western Operational Area Site Improvements project when these are placed on public exhibition by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in 2022. 

We will provide further updates as the proposals progress.

BINGO have recently identified the need to relocate the approved permanent flare/s compound to improve design, operational and environmental outcomes. The permanent flare/s infrastructure at the approved location is in the final stages of design and has not yet been constructed. An alternate location has been identified on the opposite side of the landfill as shown in this image.

To facilitate relocation of the flare compound, BINGO is required to prepare a modification application for lodgement with the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE), which is currently in preparation. 

• - Timber Picking Station Project:  an application for installation of  timber picking station following processing in MPC2 to drive improved resource recovery outcomes for separation of engineered and non-engineered timber. Click here to view further details

It is important to note none of these applications will involve a change to the type of waste received at the Eastern Creek REP. Consistent with existing approvals, the facility will not take putrescible waste. Members of the public are able to provide feedback on the Recycling Infrastructure Optimisation Project which is on public exhibition until August 10 2022. There will also be an opportunity to provide feedback on the Western Operational Area Site Improvements project when it is placed on public exhibition by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. 

We will provide further updates as the proposals progress.

BINGO acknowledges that each aspect of the waste management hierarchy fulfills an important role in an effective best practice waste management and resource recovery system, and that each aspect plays a different and significant role due to regulatory, economic, and environmental factors. Managing waste in accord with this hierarchy including the disposal of residual waste to modern landfills, is an essential service. Even at the highest levels of resource recovery in a circular economy, there will be a continuing need to dispose of some residual waste to landfill (considered as leakage under the circular economy model) to protect human health and the environment. Although disposal of waste in landfill sites falls at the bottom of waste hierarchy, landfill will remain a necessary part of NSW waste strategy into the foreseeable future for wastes that cannot be re-used, recycled, or recovered. BINGO’s focus remains on diverting as much waste as possible from landfill. It is important to note that although Eastern Creek REP landfill is not licensed to, nor accepts putrescible wastes, the material which is permitted to be landfilled does contain organic material (such as wood waste, garden waste, paper and cardboard). This material can degrade to result in emissions of methane and other landfill gases. LFG destruction in a properly designed and operated control device, such as a flare or energy recovery unit, is preferable to uncontrolled release of landfill gas for managing health and environmental impacts associated with landfill gas. In fact, many of the large landfills in Sydney licensed to receive general solid waste have landfill gas capture flare systems and/or energy recovery systems in place

BINGO has consulted extensively with the local community. On 4, 9 and 11 November 2021, BINGO held three community webinar sessions to seek feedback on the planning activities proposed for the Eastern Creek Recycling Ecology Park (REP) site. Invitations to these webinars were sent in a newsletter to local community and businesses. We received feedback that not all nearby residents or businesses received this newsletter, and others did not have sufficient time to participate.

To ensure all community members had the opportunity to provide their feedback and ask any questions, BINGO held two additional community webinar sessions on 11 and 13 December 2021. The community webinar sessions provided an update on the proposals and answered queries BINGO received through the consultation process. 

Community Webinar Presentation materials:

November Presentation

December Presentation

Eastern Creek Recycling Ecology Park Community Webinar FAQs:

Document one

Document two

If you have any questions about the community webinar sessions or the proposals, please send an email to [email protected]

Feedback provided at all of the community webinars sessions, together with written submissions received, will help inform BINGO’s approach to these proposals prior to any planning application being made.