Businesses can now seek support from the Australian Government for projects to keep greenhouse-gas producing organic waste out of landfill.
A method to benefit organisations that deal with food or garden waste is now available under the Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).
The Emissions Reduction Fund provides positive incentives for Australian businesses to adopt smarter practices that go beyond their business as usual to cut the amount of greenhouse gases they create.
Participants can earn carbon credits by setting up a project under an approved method, which sets out the rules for the activity including how the abatement is to be measured.
The Source Separated Organic Waste method will help to reduce the more than 6.6 million tonnes of organic waste, including food and garden waste, which goes to landfill each year.
Entities such as local councils, retailers, charities, hospitality businesses, manufacturers, waste processors and composting facilities will be able to take advantage of this new method.
It covers new projects that separate organic material from other waste types and divert it away from landfill to eligible alternative treatments such as composting.
In landfill, organic waste breaks down to release methane, a potent greenhouse gas which contributes considerably to climate change.
The Source Separate Organic Waste method joins a growing suite of opportunities for eligible participants right across the economy in the next Emissions Reduction Fund auction in April 2016.
Other recent innovative methods announced provide for projects in beef cattle, refrigeration and high efficiency commercial appliances to register under the fund.
This new method will build on the success of the ERF in helping to meet and beat Australia’s 2020 target and in working towards our 2030 target to cut emissions by 26 to 28 per cent.
Under the ERF to date, 275 projects have been contracted by the Clean Energy Regulator through the two auctions in 2015, resulting in 92.8 million tonnes of abatement, including 51.3 million tonnes from vegetation projects, 20.4 million tonnes in the waste sector, 8.3 million tonnes from agriculture and 7.1 million tonnes in savanna burning projects.
There is no ‘throwing money at big polluters’. All projects must be beyond business as usual. Another obligation of all projects under the scheme is to deliver the agreed emissions reductions on time. Payment is on delivery only.
The current list of methods is available on the ComLaw website.
To apply for an for emissions reduction project, visit the Clean Energy Regulator.
For more information about the Emissions Reduction Fund, visit environment.gov.au/emissions-reduction-fund.
(ENDS)