Cyclone waste powers Tweed with renewable energy

Green waste from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred is being transformed into renewable energy through a partnership between Tweed Shire Council and Cape Byron Power.

More than 4,000 tonnes of green debris – equivalent to the weight of about 2,000 cars – has been collected since the community clean-up began on 17 March. The material is being chipped and transported to the Condong Cogeneration Plant, where it will be converted into 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,” said Jane Lofthouse, Council's Acting Director of Sustainable Communities and Environment.

The Condong facility, operated by Cape Byron Power, generates electricity from biomass alongside the sugar mill. This arrangement provides a practical solution to manage the overwhelming amount of vegetation damaged during the cyclone.

Cape Byron Power General Manager Anthony Lount said the company was pleased to offer an environmentally friendly solution to a local problem.

“Our employees and contractors were all impacted by this event so being able to help with the clean-up and restoring the beautiful Tweed back to its pre-cyclone condition is important to all of us,” Lount said.

The initiative aligns with Tweed Shire Council's existing circular economy principles, which include the reuse of road materials, parks and gardens green waste, and responsible disposal of various materials.