CARBON SCHEME BRINGS INNOVATION TO LANDFILL…AND A POTENTIAL SAVING TO COUNCIL

PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council’s landfill has no liability under an emissions trading scheme and is unlikely to for at least 40 years, Independent Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott said.
“Despite political campaigning by soothsayers and doomsdayers in recent weeks, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has confirmed its landfill at Cairncross is unaffected by carbon pricing,” he said.
“However, the council now has an incentive to invest in a methane gas collection and re-use system at the Cairncross landfill, which means it is unlikely to have any liability at all until at least 2050.
“The system could even save the council money, by generating energy to operate the waste facility.
“This is an example of the emissions trading scheme at work,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“It has brought forward innovation and investment to gain a public and private good. In this case, the council is now actively exploring a methane capture and re-use facility that will reduce our region’s emissions, and save the council some money.
“In the long term, this is good for the environment, good for the local economy, and good for ratepayers.
“The council has identified a $30 million saving to ratepayers by thinking this issue through. This is a good example of the opportunities that an emissions trading scheme can bring to a region.
“I welcome the council’s investment decision and will continue to work with it to progress the methane capture and re-use facility,” Mr Oakeshott said.