Meat company to slash carbon bill in $8.7 million project

One of Australia's largest meat processing companies hopes to take a slice out of its carbon bill with an $8.7 million biogas recovery project that will turn its waste water into a new energy source.

JBS Australia will install new pre-treatment equipment and covered anaerobic lagoon technology at its Dinmore processing plant in Ipswich, Queensland.

The company will start saving money on its carbon tax bill as soon as the lagoons are covered, according to Wiley, which was engaged by JBS to project manage the upgrade.

Specifically, the project involves the development of a new 20 Megalitre anaerobic pond, a biomethane gas recovery system from new and existing ponds, and integration of biomethane gas as fuel for the existing gas fired boiler.

It will also involve a red waste stream dissolved air flotation system replacement, a new system for tallow recovery and modifications to JBS's existing trade waste system.

The project is currently in the construction phase, and completion of works is planned for March 2014.

In 2010, Wiley and JBS worked together on a salt water, hide processing plant, which was awarded the Master Builders Association Brisbane Award for Innovation in Environmental Management.

“We are proud to work with JBS, supporting their ongoing commitment to environmental innovation. Every project like this is a positive step toward a better future,” said Wiley managing director, Tom Wiley.