2022-02-08 Planning and Environment Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   8 FEBRUARY 2022


Figure 2 shows the waste to landfill and the estimated emissions over time.




Figure 2: Waste to landfill and estimated emissions over time
There has been slight reduction in emissions from the landfill during FY 2020/21 compared to the
previous year, despite an 8% increase in waste to landfill. This is a result of the increased gas
extraction from the extra wells installed in April 2021. It is expected that emissions from the landfill
will continue to fall during FY 2021/22 due to the increased landfill gas extraction.
Council officers continue to work with the contractors managing the landfill gas operation to
improve landfill gas and explore opportunities for using the methane gas for electricity.
Council’s waste management team is currently developing a Waste Management Strategy which
will consider technological and behavioural based solutions to reduce waste to landfill and resultant
emissions.
Scope 2 emissions – purchased electricity
Council includes all Council owned and operated buildings and facilities and its Rate 3 streetlights
in the calculation of Scope 2 emissions.
Climate Active recently updated the electricity accounting rules which provides organisations the
option to choose an accounting approach, location-based or market-based, when estimating
electricity emissions. Having implemented several solar PV systems which have exported solar
energy and currently investigating 100% renewable electricity, the market-based approach was
used to estimate the electricity emissions so that Council can account for these electricity reduction
measures moving forward.
Whilst the emissions from the purchase of electricity from the grid are a small percentage of
Council’s total carbon footprint, the business case for the implementation of energy efficiency and
on-site renewable energy generation is positive and reduces the impact of increased electricity
prices in the future. The emissions from Council’s purchased electricity during FY 2020/21 were
2076 tonnes. Council has continued to install renewable roof top solar on its building and facilities.
The following solar systems have recently been installed:
•      Noosa Aquatic Centre – additional 77 kW (commissioned January 2022)
•      Noosa River Holiday Park - 32 kW (commissioned September 2021)
•      Noosa North Shore Holiday Park - 32 kW (July 2020)
•      Tewantin Splash Park - 10 kW (commissioned July 2021)
Over 600kW of solar PV has now been installed across Council. On average, the solar systems
are providing approximately 40%- 50% of the facility’s electricity needs, depending on the location.
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