Tweed Shire Council says it is turning more than 4,000 tonnes of green waste from Tropical Cyclone Alfred into renewable energy through a partnership with Cape Byron Power.
As part of the Shire-wide clean-up, Council crews are collecting and chipping green waste from suburbs and transporting it to the Condong Cogeneration Plant. Operated by Cape Byron Power, the plant works alongside the sugar mill to generate electricity from biomass.
Council’s Acting Director of Sustainable Communities and Environment Jane Lofthouse said the initiative is helping to manage the significant amount of green waste generated from the Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
‘Green waste from the clean-up is chipped either on-site or taken to Quirks Quarry, where it is then transported to the Condong Cogeneration Plant to be used to produce electricity.
‘While Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre processes green waste and garden organics, the sheer volume of waste from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred exceeds the facility’s capacity,’ she said.
‘Since Monday 17 March, the community clean-up has collected around 4,000 tonnes of green waste which is equivalent to the weight of around 2,000 cars.
‘This has demonstrated the need for an alternative solution.’
Tweed Shire Council says its partnership with Cape Byron Power reflects its commitment to reduce waste and reuse resources wherever possible.
Cape Byron Power General Manager Anthony Lount said he was pleased they were able to offer a smart, green solution to a local problem.
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