Cleanaway is proud to operate the New Chum Landfill on behalf of the community. This engineered landfill plays an important role in helping manage society’s residual wastes that are unfeasible or uneconomic to recycle.

The landfill is located within a zoned industrial precinct on the site of the former largest opencut coalmine in the Ipswich suburb of New Chum and has been operating since 1998. Most of our employees at the site live locally.

Although currently closed, the site services the demolition, construction and industrial markets within South East Queensland and Northern NSW. This site is licenced, regulated by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science to accept inert waste streams, including construction waste, industrial waste and various contaminated soils.

Planning and Environment Court decision

You may have read about Cleanaway’s recent decision not to appeal the Planning and Environment Court’s decision that would have allowed for additional airspace capacity at the New Chum Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility. This is an important development for Cleanaway, the community, and our staff, which will have an impact on the future operations of the site.

Cleanaway remains committed to engaging with the community and we are pleased to provide the latest information regarding the operation of our New Chum Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility. For more information, download the latest edition of our Community Newsletter.

Community Newsletter – September 2023

Community Benefit Fund

Cleanaway’s New Chum Landfill Community Benefit Fund is an annual grants program that supports diverse community programs across Ipswich.

You can view the projects we funded in Round 2 2023.

Round 3 NOW OPEN – closing date 19 April 2024

We are calling for funding applications from not for profit groups across the Ipswich area.

If you have a project that will make a difference to your local community or the environment, then you can apply using this Application Form.

Please refer to the Guidelines for details on eligibility, criteria and key milestone dates.

If you would like to discuss your application and or eligibility, please contact Olga Ghiri on 0478316237 or email olga.ghiri@cleanaway.com.au.

Our Previous Grand Recipients

All grant recipients are assessed against a range of criteria and selected on the merits of their project and benefit to the local community.

• Round 2 – 2023 Grant Recipients:

Operational update

The site has been closed and has not accepted any new waste material since March 2022 following the unprecedented flooding event that inundated parts of South East Queensland.

There is no fixed timeline for the site to reopen or for work to continue on Cell 3B, which was impacted by the flooding. Cell 3B is the final cell that can receive waste at the site.

All other cells have been filled and formally closed. Final capping is being laid down and phytocapping is underway as the final stage of rehabilitation. Phytocapping is an eco-friendly, cost-effective method that provides a natural barrier with native vegetation to deter water infiltration into the filled material.

Cleanaway is partnering with Griffith University in developing an innovative native plant based phytocapping to revitalise ecosystems on our capped cells. Check out the Griffith University phytocapping project video here.

Landfill gas is produced in all landfill sites by decomposition of organic matter and is composed mostly of methane and carbon dioxide, along with small amounts of water vapour and other gases.

Cleanaway, in line with best practice, seeks to collect and burn the landfill gas in a safe and environmentally responsible way.

This is done through wells that are connected by an extraction network, with more than 120 now in operation onsite. They are connected to a landfill gas flare, which is the safest and most environmentally friendly treatment, while discussions around converting the captured gas to energy continue.

New Chum Community Reference Group (CRG)

Cleanaway is a proud member of the community and is committed to working with local residents and organisations. In line with this approach, Cleanaway re-established the New Chum Community Reference Group (CRG) in response to the flooding and odour issues caused by the severe wet weather events in the first half of 2022.

We advertised the initiative and invited the local community to nominate to be part of the CRG. We received a strong response and our monthly gatherings have been informative, illuminating and allowed an exchange of information that has been valuable for all parties.

Minutes of the meetings are below.