THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
Cabinet Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation
MEDIA RELEASE
CUTTING LANDFILL POLLUTION AN OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE INCOME
FOR COUNCILS AND LANDFILL OPERATORS
The Australian public should not be misled by a scare campaign about the impact of the carbon price on landfill sites.
"The vast majority of landfill sites will not be subject to the carbon price. Those that are can generate significant income through the reduction of methane pollution in particular," said Mark Dreyfus, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.
"Landfill operators and councils will be able to earn and sell carbon credits by destroying methane or converting it into electricity. Operators can then choose how to use this extra revenue when negotiating contracts with customers, including not-for-profit organisations such as the Salvation Army."
"It is important that commercial landfill operators do not mislead councils and other customers about the impact of the carbon price on their operations. For example, reports that operators are suggesting to customers a carbon price of $40 per tonne of waste are deeply concerning," said Mr Dreyfus.
"The Government has given the competition regulator, the ACCC, additional funding to prevent price gouging and to ensure that customers are not misled about the impact of the carbon price."
The Government and the Clean Energy Regulator have been working with local councils and landfill operators to help them understand how the carbon price will apply to landfill sites depending on size and the composition of the waste.
Landfill customers should also be aware that:
- There is no carbon price liability for emissions from waste deposited before 1 July 2012 (legacy waste);
- The majority of landfill sites are not liable as the carbon price only applies to those emitting over 25,000 tonnes of carbon pollution per year;
- The carbon price relates to methane created from the decay of organic waste not inorganic waste;
- Waste diverted from landfill will not attract the carbon price;
- A large number of landfills already capture methane and flare it to avoid or reduce emissions;
- Landfills may be eligible for Carbon Farming Initiative carbon credits for the destruction of methane, which can be used to offset the carbon price or sold for a profit;
- Landfills that create electricity from captured methane are also eligible for tradeable Renewable Energy Certificates which can also generate income under the Renewable Energy Target which mandates that 20% of Australia's electricity is sourced from renewable energy by 2020.
"All of these factors, and competition between landfill operators in a very profitable industry, need to be taken into account when considering the impact of the carbon price on landfill costs, savings and contracts with customers," said Mr Dreyfus.
The Clean Energy Future plan also includes broader support from the local government and community sector. The Community Energy Efficiency Program, worth $200 million, will fund grants for local councils and community organisations to retrofit or upgrade community-use buildings and facilities to reduce their energy use.
Further information is available from the Government's website http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au/ and from the Regulator's website http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/.
WEDNESDAY, 11 APRIL 2012
