Results updated 17 Feb 2021
The Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee has now finished the crediting period extension review of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative - Alternative Waste Treatment) Methodology Determination 2015.
The Committee is taking a risk based approach to periodic method reviews to allow it to focus its work on priority method development and crediting period extension reviews. The Alternative Waste Treatment method is not currently assessed as a priority for a broader periodic method review (beyond the crediting period extension) and is not being progressed at this time.
There were 4 submissions during the initial consultation period on the crediting period extension. An additional 6 submissions were made to a request for data from existing projects under the method in November 2020.
The Committee found insufficient evidence in the course of the review to indicate that an extension of the crediting period would continue to result in abatement that is unlikely to occur in the ordinary course of events.
On the basis of findings in the review report, the Committee recommends that the crediting period for projects under the Alternative Waste Treatment method, should not be extended.
Files:
- Crediting period extension review report, 226.2 KB (PDF document)
- Crediting period extension review report, 1.4 MB (Office Word 2007 XML document)
- Committee’s letter of advice to the Minister, 868.4 KB (PDF document)
- Committee’s letter of advice to the Minister, 1.4 MB (Office Word 2007 XML document)
Overview
The climate change function transferred to our department from the Department of the Environment and Energy on 1 February 2020.
The Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee is conducting a periodic review and a crediting period extension review of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative - Alternative Waste Treatment) Methodology Determination 2015.
The Alternative Waste Treatment method credits the avoided methane emissions from decomposition of organic waste in landfills by diverting mixed solid waste otherwise destined for landfill to alternative waste treatment facilities.
The method allows three types of processing of the diverted waste:
- enclosed composting
- one or more anaerobic digesters and the transfer of biogas to a combustion device for destruction
- process engineered fuel manufacture.
This review will investigate whether the method continues to comply with the six offsets integrity standards set out in section 133(1) of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011, and whether emissions reductions credited through the scheme remain genuine and additional.
The review will also consider whether the crediting period of projects registered under the methods should be extended under section 255A of the Act.
The Committee is undertaking public consultation to inform its review and invites interested businesses, industry, non-government organisations and individuals to make a submission.
Related
Alternative waste treatment - periodic review and crediting period extension review - consultation paper 210.9 KB (Office Word 2007 XML document)
Alternative waste treatment - periodic review and crediting period extension review - consultation paper 432.0 KB (PDF document)
