2021-08-10 P&E Agenda - Item 7 - Attachment 1 - Climate Change Response Plan

           Noosa Shire Council




    Theme 8:
    Zero waste and circular economy
    Why this is important
    Our current linear economic model of take-make-waste results in the excess use of resources,
    land and water pollution, and vast amount of waste going to landfill once products are no longer
    deemed necessary. In a circular economy, raw materials enter a cycle wherein their value is
    maintained throughout their life cycle.
    Around 79000 tonnes of waste is taken to the Noosa Landfill each year. Of this 48% is reused
    or recycled, whilst the rest (41,000 tonnes) is buried in the landfill. Material that is dumped into
    landfill is a lost resource and a source of carbon emissions.
    When organic matter (food, green waste, paper, etc) is sent to landfill, it is decomposed under
    anaerobic conditions. As the organic matter decomposes, it releases methane. Methane is 28
    times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Emissions from landfill comprise
    over 60% of Council’s corporate emissions and around 9% of the Noosa community emissions.
    The degradation of organic waste in landfills is a complex series of chemical and biological
    reactions. Landfill gas is currently extracted from the Noosa Landfill, and flared, converting the
    methane into carbon dioxide. Methane from landfill gas can also be used to generate electricity.
    Landfill conditions, weather conditions, age of the waste and gas extraction equipment
    productivity will all affect the methanogenic bacterial action and hence the resultant landfill gas
    that is captured.
    By moving from a take-make-waste system linear system to the circular economy, resources are
    used many times over, the nutrients from organic material are captured, land required for waste
    disposal is reduced, and the costs throughout the system overall are lower.


    How we’ll achieve this
    Council is responsible for the collection and processing of the community’s waste. The landfill
    operations and the landfill gas system is managed by Council in partnership with its contractor.
    A waste management plan is being developed to determine the most effective management
    methods for the collection and processing of waste and the management of the landfill.
    Council is also responsible for the generation of waste within its own operations and can
    increase demand for recycled products through its own procurement practices.
    Council has a role in influencing how the community reduces its waste generation and the
    amount of waste ending up in landfill through the provision of appropriate infrastructure such as
    bins and collection services and through providing and supporting community waste reduction
    education and behaviour change initiatives with businesses and households. As part of this,
    Council supports and promotes programs such as Plastic Free Noosa.




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