2018-02-06 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                              6 FEBRUARY 2018


Some leachate escaped to the environment before staff were alerted and blocked the overflow.
This was reported to Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) and they will be
inquiring about the incident and action proposed to be taken by Council to prevent a future
incident.

Additional backup equipment (pump and motor) are being purchased and stored to mitigate a
similar occurrence in the future.

ZEN
Waste Officers have been providing detailed information to the Zero Emissions Noosa team. The
landfill has been identified as the major source of carbon emissions from Noosa Council. Waste
Officers now look forward to working with the ZEN team to undertake a waste audit as the first
step towards reducing carbon emissions from methane at landfill cells.

5.    ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN DURING THE PERIOD

Below is a brief summary of additional new initiatives that the Waste Section implemented during
the six- month period.

Methane extraction and power generation
The Waste Section met with methane extraction contractor LMS to discuss potential
improvements in methane extraction from old and existing landfill cells. A decision has been
made to implement lateral gas lines to improve methane gas capture and improve the future
viability of power generation from methane combustion. Lateral gas lines will be installed early in
2018.

Council received $7,283.10 in royalty payments (October to December 2017) from LMS for Gas
Flaring revenue.

Container Deposit Scheme
The Waste Section are monitoring developments from the State government with regard to how
the scheme will operate and what involvement will be required from Council. The scheme, which
is due to commence in mid-2018, is likely to require input from Council, however to date little has
been released by the State government on how the Scheme will be implemented. The planned
approach by staff is to allow ‘Not for Profit’ organisations to manage the scheme with limited
involvement by Council.

Plastic Free Noosa
Boomerang Alliance have received Government funding for the Plastic Free Noosa initiative and
Waste Section staff have commenced working closely with Boomerang Alliance to implement a
voluntary code designed to reduce the use of plastic bottles, bags, straws and utensils, take
away coffee cups and containers in Noosa Shire.

Review of the Noosa Council Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan 2016-2024
The Plan will be reviewed in the next six months and activities to date will be assessed against
the action items contained within the plan.




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