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ClimateQuiet 11d · day 17

RMIT trial finds floating wetlands cut wastewater lagoon emissions 30%

A two-year Phillip Island trial shows native-plant platforms slash methane, CO2 and nitrogen from wastewater lagoons.

newest coverage 11d agosummary written 11d ago5 pieces1 likes & upvotes NewswiresGoogle NewsMastodon

What to know

  • A two-year, world-first trial on a Phillip Island wastewater lagoon cut overall greenhouse gas emissions by about 30%, with methane down up to 66%, CO2 up to 36% and nitrogen 18%.
  • The 330-square-metre platform of native reeds and sedges could reportedly be retrofitted into existing lagoons without major infrastructure changes.
  • Wastewater treatment produces roughly 700 million tonnes of greenhouse gases globally each year, making the sector a significant emissions source.
  • Researchers are now testing the approach on farm dams and other settings, and water companies have expressed interest in further trials, including for PFAS removal.

“Now we think about Victoria alone, for example, that is roughly one million tonnes of greenhouse gases every year. And so reducing those emissions is very tricky, but it's a very important step that we show basically that we can reduce emissions in open lagoons.”

Dr Lukas Schuster, RMIT research fellow · ABC News ↗ · Sep 11

Lukas Schuster RMIT research fellow, Centre for Nature Positive SolutionsRMIT University Research institutionWesternport Water Utility partnerCSIRO National science agency

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

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Sep 8Sep 10Sep 12Sep 14Sep 16Sep 18Sep 20now · 5:46 AM ET
  1. 2

    Trial results spread on social media

    News of the Phillip Island findings was shared and reposted on social platforms, extending coverage beyond the initial ABC report.

    • RealJournalism@mastodon.social

      World-first trial on Phillip Island discovers floating wetlands can cut emissions - ABC News https://www. abc.net.au/news/2026-09-12/flo ating-wetlands-slash-wastewater-greenhouse-gas-emissions/107075464

      RealJournalism@mastodon.socialMastodon11d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
  2. 1

    RMIT publishes resultsEmissions cut by about 30% on average

    The trial found the floating wetland reduced CO2 by up to 36%, methane by up to 66% and nitrogen by 18% compared with the control lagoon; researchers say the approach could be retrofitted into existing lagoons and are now testing it on farm dams and other settings, with water companies interested in further trials including PFAS removal.

    “On a global scale, they produce roughly 700 million tonnes of greenhouse gases every year.”
    — Dr Lukas Schuster

    1. 3 outlets first by ua.news, 12d ago · also Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC Australia · read ↗

  3. background

    Researchers install floating wetland on Phillip Island lagoon — RMIT University, Westernport Water and CSIRO deployed a 330-square-metre floating platform of native reeds and sedges on a wastewater lagoon, with roots hanging into the water to host pollutant-breaking microbes.