❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the DER regarding landfill gas emission assessment during the licensing stage. The DER clarifies its requirements for waste identification and landfill gas management, deferring detailed post-closure planning until later in the landfill's lifecycle.
AnsweredQoN 1299Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Australasian Land and Groundwater Association (ALGA) Forum, held on 3 June
2014, on the Environmental Approvals Process for Landfill Development and a
question that I posed at that meeting, and I ask: (a) does the Department of Environment Regulation (DER)
require proponents of landfill sites to identify the nature of material
proposed to go into closed cells during the licence assessment stage for landfill sites; (b) does DER require proponents of landfill sites to the predicted landfill gas emissions
from closed cells during the licence assessment stage for landfill sites; (c) does DER assess sites to predicted landfill gas emissions from closed cells during the
licence assessment stage for landfill sites; (d) if no to (a), (b) and/or (c), why not; and (e) if yes to (a), (b) and/or (c), how is this done and are
these evaluations available to the public?
2014, on the Environmental Approvals Process for Landfill Development and a
question that I posed at that meeting, and I ask: (a) does the Department of Environment Regulation (DER)
require proponents of landfill sites to identify the nature of material
proposed to go into closed cells during the licence assessment stage for landfill sites; (b) does DER require proponents of landfill sites to the predicted landfill gas emissions
from closed cells during the licence assessment stage for landfill sites; (c) does DER assess sites to predicted landfill gas emissions from closed cells during the
licence assessment stage for landfill sites; (d) if no to (a), (b) and/or (c), why not; and (e) if yes to (a), (b) and/or (c), how is this done and are
these evaluations available to the public?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2014
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
56 days
(a) The Department of Environment Regulation (DER) requires a works approval or licence application for a proposed landfill or new landfill cell to specify the types of waste that will be accepted and buried during the operating life of the landfill (or cell), with reference to the
Landfill Waste Classification and Waste Definitions 1996
[as amended] (for example, putrescible waste, inert waste types 1, 2 or 3, contaminated solid waste meeting acceptance criteria specified for Class II landfills, etc.). A landfill (or cell) is closed and capped after waste acceptance has ceased.
(b) No, DER does not require proponents to quantify the predicted landfill gas emission rates after a landfill or cell has closed in their works approval or licence application for a new landfill or cell. In their application, proponents are required to identify potential emissions and discharges from their premises and detail how these will be controlled and managed to prevent unacceptable impacts on the environment. For putrescible landfills, this includes landfill gas emissions.
(c) No, DER does not seek to quantify potential landfill gas emissions after a landfill or cell has closed, when assessing a works approval or licence application for a new landfill or cell. The likely effectiveness of landfill gas management strategies and the risk posed by emissions to the environment are assessed by DER during the works approval and licensing stages, and during the operational life of licensed landfills.
(d) With reference to (b) and (c), the quantity and rate of landfill gas generation are influenced by a number of factors, including the nature and age of the waste buried in the landfill, the quantity and types of organic compounds in the waste, and the moisture content and temperature of the waste. Due to these variables, DER considers that detailed planning for post-closure landfill gas management is best undertaken as part of overall closure planning, towards the end of the operating life of a landfill and based on operational experience.
(e) DER documents its assessment and decision-making on applications in a decision document, which accompanies the works approval or licence granted for new premises and is published on the Department's website.
Landfill Waste Classification and Waste Definitions 1996
[as amended] (for example, putrescible waste, inert waste types 1, 2 or 3, contaminated solid waste meeting acceptance criteria specified for Class II landfills, etc.). A landfill (or cell) is closed and capped after waste acceptance has ceased.
(b) No, DER does not require proponents to quantify the predicted landfill gas emission rates after a landfill or cell has closed in their works approval or licence application for a new landfill or cell. In their application, proponents are required to identify potential emissions and discharges from their premises and detail how these will be controlled and managed to prevent unacceptable impacts on the environment. For putrescible landfills, this includes landfill gas emissions.
(c) No, DER does not seek to quantify potential landfill gas emissions after a landfill or cell has closed, when assessing a works approval or licence application for a new landfill or cell. The likely effectiveness of landfill gas management strategies and the risk posed by emissions to the environment are assessed by DER during the works approval and licensing stages, and during the operational life of licensed landfills.
(d) With reference to (b) and (c), the quantity and rate of landfill gas generation are influenced by a number of factors, including the nature and age of the waste buried in the landfill, the quantity and types of organic compounds in the waste, and the moisture content and temperature of the waste. Due to these variables, DER considers that detailed planning for post-closure landfill gas management is best undertaken as part of overall closure planning, towards the end of the operating life of a landfill and based on operational experience.
(e) DER documents its assessment and decision-making on applications in a decision document, which accompanies the works approval or licence granted for new premises and is published on the Department's website.
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