Waste avoidance and reduction to achieve net zero council emissions
OVERVIEW
Kingborough Council, Tasmania has committed to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2035.
Waste was identified as a key focus, with a minimum 75% reduction in GHG emissions from council’s waste and resource recovery services required by 2035.
Urban EP was engaged to enable a waste reduction and avoidance plan to 2035 and near term implementation priorities.
KEY INFO
| Location: | Kingborough, Tasmania |
| Stakeholders: |
Kingborough Council |
| Solutions: | GHG Mitigation Action Plan |
THE BRIEF
Kingborough Council has engaged Urban EP to prepare a Waste Avoidance and Reduction Plan centred on achieving reductions in greenhouse gases (GHG) generated from waste and resource recovery related activities conducted on its community’s behalf. This plan will support council in delivering its Climate Change Plan strategic commitment KCE 1.3, i.e.: ‘Council strives to reduce community waste levels (given this is the largest greenhouse gas contributor for Kingborough).’
Urban EP was requested to:
Conduct a performance review - examining current waste management and resource recovery services, activities and operations in terms of their GHG emissions implications
Develop a Waste Avoidance and Reduction Plan – setting out a forward path of achievable and practical actions to reduce GHG emissions from waste management and resource recovery activities, and contribute to a new zero emissions trajectory
Develop a Community Engagement and Awareness Plan – setting out key engagement and awareness activities to ensure the community is aware of priority actions and is playing its role to reduce GHG emissions from waste and resource recovery processes
THE RESULTS
Urban EP delivered:
A more accurate description of council’s overall GHG emissions in comparison to earlier and more high level studies, using methods and data that more closely reflect Kingborough’s general waste profile and related management of waste sent to landfill
A Waste Avoidance and Reduction Plan (subsequently endorsed by Council) that identified priority material streams (by GHG contribution) and targeted actions by stream to enable a minimum 75% reduction in GHG emissions from council’s waste and resource recovery services required by 2035. The plan was developed in sync with existing waste and resource recovery policy, planning and services.
A Community Engagement and Awareness Plan to better enable Council to encourage community and business participation in driving change in waste practices which avoid and reduce GHG emissions.
Following successful endorsement of the WARP, Urban EP was separately engaged to work with Council on developing a near term Implementation Plan (2023 - 2025), including presentation to Kingborough Council meeting for consideration and endorsement.