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Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Diversion of Legacy Waste to an Alternative Waste Treatment Facility) Methodology Determination 2013
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011
I, MARK DREYFUS, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, make this Methodology Determination under subsection 106 (1) of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.
Dated 31 January 2013
MARK DREYFUS
Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
Contents
Part 1 Preliminary
1.1 Name of Determination 4
1.2 Commencement 4
1.3 Definitions 4
1.4 Kind of project to which this Determination applies 6
Part 2 Requirements for declaration as eligible project
2.1 Eligible projects 7
2.2 Requirement 1—Project mechanism 7
2.3 Requirement 2—Facility accreditation 7
2.4 Requirement 3—Waste characteristics 7
Part 3 Requirements for operation of eligible projects
3.1 Operation of eligible projects 8
3.2 Waste must be classified 8
Division 3.2 Greenhouse gas assessment boundary
3.3 Greenhouse gases that must be accounted for 8
Part 4 The net abatement amount
Division 4.1 The net abatement amount
4.1 The net abatement amount 10
Division 4.2 Calculations
Subdivision 4.2.1 Preliminary
4.2 General 10
Subdivision 4.2.2 Calculating the baseline
4.3 Calculating the baseline 11
Subdivision 4.2.3 Calculating project emissions (Ep)
4.4 Calculating project emissions (Ep) 14
Subdivision 4.2.4 Calculating net greenhouse gas abatement
4.5 Calculating the net abatement (A) 20
Part 5 Monitoring, measurement, record-keeping and reporting requirements
Division 5.1 General
5.1 General 22
Division 5.2 Measuring requirements
5.2 Project measurement 22
5.3 Weighbridge protocol 24
5.4 Estimation methods 25
5.5 Direct measurement and sampling protocol 25
Division 5.3 Monitoring and recording requirements
5.6 General 26
5.7 Monitoring requirements 27
Division 5.4 Record-keeping requirements
5.8 Records that must be kept 28
Division 5.5 Offsets report requirements
5.9 Report requirements 29
Schedule 1—Average state or territory based landfill gas capture rates 30
Schedule 2—Percentage of waste mix types 31
Schedule 3—Waste mix types, degradable organic carbon content and DOCF values. 32
Schedule 4—Prescribed Factors or Parameters 33
Part 1 Preliminary
1.1 Name of Determination
This Determination is the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Diversion of Legacy Waste to an Alternative Waste Treatment Facility) Methodology Determination 2013.
1.2 Commencement
This Determination is taken to have commenced on 1 July 2010.
1.3 Definitions
In this Determination:
Act means the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 as in force from time to time.
advanced composting technology means composting technology that is enclosed or semi-enclosed, and includes process monitoring and control to ensure that aerobic conditions and ideal temperatures are maintained.
Alternative waste treatment (AWT) facility means a facility that converts waste that has been diverted from a landfill facility that is licensed by a State or Territory government body or by a local government authority, to energy or any other product.
biobased waste materials means waste containing degradable organic carbon.
biobased products means products from an AWT facility that are primarily composed of material containing degradable organic carbon (for example, recycled paper and cardboard, compost, or soil conditioner).
CO2-e means the carbon dioxide equivalence.
commercial and industrial waste means legacy waste generated from fixed point sources related to manufacturing, wholesale, retail, professional services and administration sectors.
Composting AWT facility means an AWT facility that uses a controlled and contained process to ensure that appropriate aerobic levels are maintained to produce a fit-for-purpose product from waste materials that would otherwise need to be landfilled.
construction and demolition waste means legacy waste generated from construction and demolition activities of any scale.
degradable organic carbon content has the meaning given in the NGER (Measurement) Determination.
enclosed means, in relation to a composting technology, a semi-enclosed technology where the composting process occurs within a reactor with hard walls or doors on all four sides and sits on a floor with a permanent positive or negative aeration system.
Greenhouse Friendly TM initiative means the program known by that name and administered by the Commonwealth Government.
inert waste means waste that does not decompose and includes concrete, metal, plastic and glass.
legacy waste means waste physically accepted onto the premises of a waste diversion facility before 1 July 2012 that would otherwise have entered landfill.
municipal solid waste (MSW) means legacy waste primarily generated from the domestic sector and collected in household garbage, recycling, garden organics and Council clean-up collections.
non-biobased products means products from an AWT facility that are not biobased products, including recycled steel, aluminium or plastics.
NATA means the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (ACN 004 379 748).
National Measurement Act means the National Measurement Act 1960 as in force from time to time.
NGER (Measurement) Determination means the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Measurement) Determination 2008 as in force from time to time.
NGER Regulations means the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Regulations 2008 as in force from time to time.
project period means the period of time from 1 July 2010 to 1 July 2012 in which the diversion of legacy waste was undertaken.
putrescible waste means waste materials that contain degradable organic carbon.
residual waste means the material that remains at the end of processing by the waste diversion facility that is not a recycled product.
restricted waste type means waste that is the subject of a restriction in accordance with a licence or other authorisation relating to the waste diversion facility.
standard composting technology means a composting technology that is not an advanced composting technology.
semi-enclosed means, in relation to a composting technology, a composting system where the composting process occurs within a sealed building or reactor under permanent negative aeration, with all air from the composting building or reactor treated through a biofilter prior to release to the atmosphere
transitioning Greenhouse FriendlyTM project means a project that was previously approved as an abatement project under the Greenhouse FriendlyTM initiative.
unrestricted waste type means waste that is not a restricted waste type.
Note Other words and expressions used in this Determination have the meaning given by the Act. These terms include:
baseline
carbon dioxide equivalence
eligible offsets project
emission
greenhouse gas
offsets project
offsets report
project
project area
project proponent
Regulator
reporting period
1.4 Kind of project to which this Determination applies
Note: See paragraph 106(1)(a) of the Act.
This Determination applies to a project that proposes to divert legacy waste to a composting AWT facility, in circumstances where:
(a) the legacy waste would otherwise have entered a landfill facility; and
(b) the composting AWT facility was previously approved as an abatement project under the Greenhouse FriendlyTM Initiative; and
(c) the diverted legacy waste is processed using either standard composting technology or advanced composting technology to manufacture fit for purpose products.
Part 2 Requirements for declaration as eligible project
Note See paragraphs 27(4)(c), 35(2)(a) and 106(1)(b) of the Act and regulations 1.12 and 3.26 of the Regulations.
2.1 Eligible projects
To be declared an eligible offsets project, a project to which this Determination applies must meet the requirements in this Part.
Note These requirements are in addition to those set by the Regulations for applications for a declaration.
2.2 Requirement 1—Project mechanism
The project must:
(a) divert waste to a composting AWT facility in circumstances where the waste:
(i) would otherwise be deposited to landfill; and
(ii) meets the waste characteristics prescribed in section 2.4; and
(iii) is processed in accordance with paragraph (iv) in order to manufacture fit for purpose products; and
(iv) for paragraph (iii), the waste must be processed using either:
(A) standard composting technology; or
(B) an advanced composting technology
2.3 Requirement 2—Facility accreditation
For this Determination, the composting AWT facility that accepts the diverted legacy waste must have previously been approved as an abatement project under the Greenhouse Friendly TM initiative.
2.4 Requirement 3—Waste characteristics
The legacy waste must be putrescible waste that is one or a combination of the following:
(a) municipal solid waste;
(b) commercial and industrial waste; or
(c) construction and demolition waste.
Part 3 Requirements for operation of eligible projects
Note See paragraphs 27(4)(c), 35(2)(a) and 106(1)(b) of the Act and regulation 3.26 of the Regulations.
3.1 Operation of eligible projects
An eligible offsets project must be operated in accordance with this Part.
3.2 Waste must be classified
In order to calculate the net abatement amount, waste that meets the requirements in Part 2 must be classified into the following waste mix types:
(a) municipal solid waste;
(b) commercial and industrial waste; or
(c) construction and demolition waste.
Note The net abatement amount is calculated in accordance with Part 4 of this Determination.
Division 3.2 Greenhouse gas assessment boundary
3.3 Greenhouse gases that must be accounted for
The following greenhouse gases from the following sources within the project must be taken into account when making calculations under Part 2. No other gases may be taken into account in respect of a source.
Table of gases accounted for in the abatement calculations
Project activity
Greenhouse gas
Estimated decomposition of legacy waste at a landfill site
Methane (CH4)
Emissions from the composting process
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Emissions from transport of the end product from the project site
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Emissions from transport of residual waste from the project
Note: These emissions are included subject to subsection 4.4 (5).
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Emissions from on-site electricity use
Note: These emissions are included subject to subsection 4.4 (3).
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Emissions from residual waste sent to landfill
Methane (CH4)
Part 4 The net abatement amount
Division 4.1 The net abatement amount
4.1 The net abatement amount
Note See paragraph 106(1)(c) of the Act.
For an eligible offsets project to which this Determination applies, the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount for the project in relation to a reporting period for the project is taken to be:
(a) the quantity of methane emissions avoided as a consequence of the project, minus emissions from project activities;
(b) where those quantities are calculated in accordance with Division 4.2.
Division 4.2 Calculations
Subdivision 4.2.1 Preliminary
4.2 General
In this Part:
(a) unless otherwise specified, all calculations are in respect of activities undertaken, or outcomes achieved, during the project period for the eligible offsets project;
(b) unless otherwise specified:
(i) a reference to a project is a reference to an eligible offsets project that meets the requirements of Part 2;
(ii) all references to Parts, Divisions, sections, subsections, paragraphs, schedules and Equations are references to corresponding parts of this Determination.
(c) If a calculation in Division 3.2 refers to a factor or parameter that is not otherwise specified in a Schedule to this Determination, the person carrying out the calculations must apply the factor or parameter prescribed in the NGER (Measurement) Determination or the NGER Regulations in force at the time that the offsets report was required to be submitted.
Subdivision 4.2.2 Calculating the baseline
Note See paragraph 106 (4) (f) and section 107 of the Act.
4.3 Calculating the baseline
(1) For an eligible offsets project to which this Determination applies, the baseline must be calculated as follows:
Equation 1
Where:
Eb = baseline emissions, measured in tonnes of CO2-e.
Lo = methane generation potential of the degradable organic carbon content in the putrescible waste diverted, measured in tonnes of CH4 and calculated in accordance with Equation 2.
OF = oxidation factor for near surface methane in landfill as prescribed in Schedule 4.
GWPCH4 = global warming potential conversion factor for tonnes of CH4 into tonnes CO2-e, as prescribed in the NGER Regulations.
R = percentage of landfill gas that would have been captured and thermally oxidised, as prescribed in Schedule 1.
(2) Lo is calculated as follows:
Equation 2
Where:
Lo = the methane generation potential of the degradable organic carbon content in the putrescible waste diverted, measured in tonnes of CH4.
QWi = quantity of waste mix type i present in the putrescible waste diverted, measured in tonnes, and calculated in accordance with Equation 3.
DOCi = degradable organic carbon value of waste mix type i, as prescribed in Schedule 3.
DOCF,i = fraction of degradable organic carbon dissimilated for waste mix type i, as prescribed in Schedule 3.
MCF = 1, which is the methane correction factor for aerobic decomposition.
F = 0.5, which is the fraction by volume of methane in landfill gas.
(3) QWi is calculated as follows:
Equation 3
Where:
QWi= quantity of waste mix type i present in the putrescible waste diverted, measured in tonnes.
QMSW = quantity of legacy waste from municipal solid waste sources accepted and processed by the AWT facility, measured in tonnes.
QC&D = quantity of legacy waste from construction and demolition sources accepted and processed by the AWT facility, measured in tonnes.
QC&I = quantity of legacy waste from commercial and industrial sources accepted and processed by the AWT facility, measured in tonnes.
QFacility = quantity of legacy waste accepted and processed by the AWT facility, measured in tonnes.
QPUT = quantity of putrescible waste diverted, measured in tonnes and calculated in accordance with Equation 5.
PMSWi = percentage of waste mix type i in the biobased legacy waste material from municipal solid waste sources, calculated in accordance with subsection (4).
PC&Di = percentage of waste mix type i in the biobased legacy waste material from construction and demolition sources, based on the proportions of waste mix type for construction and demolition waste, calculated in accordance with subsection (4).
PC&Ii = percentage of waste mix type i in the biobased legacy waste material from commercial and industrial sources, based on the proportions of waste mix type for commercial and industrial waste, calculated in accordance with subsection (4).
(4) Waste mix type percentages must be determined in the following manner:
(a) for a restricted waste mix type—by using the maximum permitted tonnage of the restricted waste mix type received at the AWT facility, as a percentage of the total waste received at the AWT facility;
(b) for an unrestricted waste mix type—by adjusting the default percentages prescribed in Schedule 2 for each unrestricted waste mix type, in accordance with subsection (5);
(c) for inert waste—in the manner prescribed in paragraph (a) where the maximum permitted tonnage is taken to be zero.
Note Default percentages are set out in columns 3 and 4 of the table in Schedule 2. Waste mix types are set out in column 2 of that table.
(5) Where paragraph (4) (b) applies, the following calculation must be used to adjust the default percentages for each unrestricted waste mix type i:
Equation 4
Where:
Wmtuadj = the adjusted percentage for each unrestricted waste mix type.
Wmtu = the default percentage for each unrestricted waste mix type, as prescribed in Schedule 2.
Wmtr = the default percentage for each restricted waste mix type in as prescribed in Schedule 2.
Wmtrmax = the maximum percentage for each restricted waste mix type.
(6) QPUT must be calculated as follows:
Equation 5
Where:
QPUT = quantity of putrescible waste diverted, measured in tonnes.
QFacility = quantity of legacy waste accepted and processed by the AWT facility, measured in tonnes.
QRes = quantity of residual waste separated from legacy waste by the facility and sent to landfill, measured in tonnes.
QProductsNB, p = quantity of each non-biobased product type p produced by the AWT facility and measured in tonnes.
Subdivision 4.2.3 Calculating project emissions (Ep)
4.4 Calculating project emissions (Ep)
(1) EP must be calculated as follows:
Equation 6
Where:
Ep = emissions from the project, measured in tonnes of CO2-e.
QPUT = quantity of putrescible waste diverted, measured in tonnes, and calculated in accordance with Equation 5.
QFacility = quantity of legacy waste accepted and processed at the composting AWT facility, measured in tonnes.
EFTij = emissions of gas type j, being carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous oxide, released from the combustion of fuel type i from the operation of the AWT facility, measured in tonnes of CO2-e and calculated in accordance with Equation 7.
EFE = emissions from electricity used by the operation of the composting AWT facility, measured in tonnes of CO2-e and calculated in accordance with subsection (3).
MTEProduct = material transport emissions associated with all product types, measured in tonnes of CO2-e and calculated in accordance with subsection (5).
PEc = emissions on-site from the composting process, measured in tonnes of CO2-e and calculated in accordance with Equation 10.
(2) EFTij must be calculated as follows:
Equation 7
Where:
EFTij = emissions of gas type j, being carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous oxide, released from the combustion of fuel type i from the operation of the AWT facility, measured in tonnes of CO2-e.
FTQi = quantity of fuel type i measured in tonnes, cubic metres or kilolitres (for solid, gas and liquid fuels respectively), used in the operation of the composting AWT facility.
FTECi = energy content factor of fuel type i as prescribed in the NGER Determination, and measured in gigajoules per tonne, cubic metre or kilolitre.
FTEFijoxec = emission factor for each gas type j released from the combustion of fuel type i, measured in kilograms of CO2-e per gigajoule of fuel type i, calculated using the relevant emission factor prescribed in Schedule 1 of the NGER (Measurement) Determination.
Calculating emissions from electricity
(3) Emissions from electricity (EFE) must be calculated as follows:
(a) for the consumption of grid derived electricity that occurred between 1 July 2010 and 1 July 2012—in accordance with Equation 8; and
(b) where the project uses grid derived electricity after 1 July 2012—EFE may be taken to be zero or calculated in accordance with Equation 8.
(4) Subject to subsections (3), EFE must be calculated as follows:
Equation 8
Where:
EFE = emissions from grid-derived electricity used by the operation of the AWT facility, measured in tonnes of CO2-e.
Qelec = quantity of electricity generated in an on-site fossil fuel fired power plant or consumed from the grid as a result of the project activity, determined using an electricity meter and measured in kWh.
EFelec = carbon emissions factor for electricity generation in the project activity, measured in kgCO2/kWh, calculated in accordance with Chapter 7 of the NGER (Measurement) Determination.
Calculating emissions from transport
(5) MTEProduct must be calculated as follows:
(a) where the transport destination for biobased products and residual waste is outside a radius of 10 kilometres in distance from the AWT facility—in accordance with Equation 9; or
(b) where the transport destination for biobased products and residual waste is within a radius of 10 kilometers in distance from the AWT facility—MTEProduct must be taken to be zero.
Note: For the avoidance of doubt, this calculation applies to each trip.
Equation 9
Where:
MTEProduct = material transport emissions associated with all biobased product types and all residual waste types, measured in tonnes of CO2-e.
QProduct,p = quantity of product or residual waste type p, measured in tonnes.
ALProduct,p = average load weight for each load of product type p that is transported from the AWT facility, measured in tonnes.
RDProduct,p = return distance trip from the AWT facility, measured using a publicly available internet mapping tool, and rounded to the nearest kilometre.
FUFTi = 5.62x10-4, which is the fuel usage factor for heavy diesel trucks, measured in kilolitres per kilometre.
FTECFTi = energy content factor of fuel type i as prescribed in Schedule 1 of the NGER (Measurement) Determination, measured in gigajoules per cubic metre for gas or per kilolitre for liquid fuels.
FTEFijoxec = emission factor for each gas type j released from the combustion of fuel type i, measured in kilograms of CO2-e per gigajoule of fuel type i, as prescribed in Schedule 1 of the NGER (Measurement) Determination.
(6) PEc must be calculated as follows:
Equation 10
Where:
PEc = emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from the composting process, measured in tonnes of CO2-e.
PEc,N2O = nitrous oxide emissions during the composting process, measured in tonnes of CO2-e and determined in accordance with Equation 11.
PEc,CH4 = emissions from the composting process due to methane production through anaerobic conditions, measured in tonnes of CO2-e and determined in accordance with subsection (8).
(7) PEc,N2O must be calculated as follows:
Equation 11
Where:
PEC,N2O = nitrous oxide emissions from composting, measured in tonnes of CO2-e.
QWC = total quantity of wet waste composted, measured in tonnes and calculated in accordance with Equation 14.
EFC,N2O = emissions factor for nitrous oxide emissions from the composting process, as prescribed in the NGER (Measurement) Determination.
GWPN2O = global warming potential of nitrous oxide, as prescribed in the NGER Regulations.
Calculating PEc,CH4
(8) PEc,CH4 must be calculated:
(a) where standard composting technology is used—in accordance with subsection (9); or
(b) where advanced composting technology is used in the project—in accordance with the choice of a proponent either:
(i) subsection (9); or
(ii) subsection (10).
(9) Subject to subsection (8), PEC,CH4 must be calculated as follows:
Equation 12
Where:
PEc,CH4 = project methane emissions due to anaerobic conditions in the composting process, measured in tonnes of CO2-e.
QWC = total quantity of wet waste composted, measured in tonnes and calculated in accordance with Equation 14.
EFC,CH4 = emissions factor for methane emissions from the composting process, as prescribed in the NGER (Measurement) Determination.
GWPCH4 = global warming potential of methane, as prescribed in the NGER Regulations.
(10) Subject to subsection (8), PEC,CH4 may be calculated as follows:
Equation 13
Where:
PEc,CH4 = project methane emissions due to anaerobic conditions in the composting process, measured in tonnes of CO2-e.
FBF = average volumetric airflow exiting the biofilter process unit, or where no pipe exists for methane concentration measurement, the average volumetric airflow immediately before the biofilter process unit, measured in cubic metres of air per hour, in accordance with section 5.2.
HPP = the number of hours in the project period.
MEC = average methane emission concentration, measured in milligrams of methane per cubic metre of air and in accordance with section 5.2 and 5.5.
GWPCH4 = global warming potential of methane, as prescribed in the NGER Regulations.
(11) QWC must be calculated as follows:
Equation 14
Where:
QWC = quantity of wet waste composted, measured in tonnes.
QPUT = quantity of putrescible waste diverted, measured in tonnes and calculated in accordance with Equation 5.
QProductsBNC = total quantity of biobased products produced by the AWT facility which does not pass through any part of the composting process, measured in tonnes in accordance with section 5.2.
Subdivision 4.2.4 Calculating net greenhouse gas abatement
4.5 Calculating the net abatement (A)
(1) Net abatement must be calculated as follows:
A = Eb — Ep
Equation 15
Where:
A = carbon dioxide equivalent net greenhouse gas abatement, measured in tonnes of CO2-e.
Eb = baseline emissions, measured in tonnes of CO2-e, calculated in accordance with Equation 1.
EP = project emissions measured in tonnes of CO2-e, calculated in accordance with Equation 6.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the net abatement amount for an offsets project in relation to the reporting period must be calculated as follows:
Areport= (A / 7) Y
Equation 16
Where:
Areport = net carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas abatement for the reporting period, measured in tonnes of CO2-e.
A = carbon dioxide equivalent net greenhouse gas abatement, measured in tonnes of CO2-e, calculated in accordance with Equation 15.
Y = number of years in reporting period.
Part 5 Monitoring, measurement, record-keeping and reporting requirements
Note See subsection 106(3) of the Act.
Division 5.1 General
5.1 General
For the purposes of subsection 106 (3) of the Act, a project proponent of an offsets project to which this Determination applies must comply with the monitoring, measurement, record-keeping and reporting requirements of this Part.
Division 5.2 Measuring requirements
5.2 Project measurement
Subsection to section 5.4, a project proponent must measure the matters specified in the following table, in the manner and frequency specified, for the purposes of calculating baseline emissions and the net abatement amount.
Parameter
Description
Unit
Measurement Procedure
Measurement Frequency
QFacility
Quantity of legacy waste accepted into project facility.
Tonnes (t)
Weighbridge protocol, as prescribed in section 5.3.
Per load and then summed for project period.
QMSW
Quantity of legacy waste from municipal solid waste sources accepted and processed by the AWT facility.
Tonnes (t)
Weighbridge protocol, as prescribed in section 5.3.
Per load and then summed for project period.
QProductsNB
Quantity of each non-biobased product type produced by the AWT facility and measured in tonnes.
Tonnes (t)
Weighbridge protocol, as prescribed in section 5.3.
Per load and then summed for project period.
QProductsBNC
Total quantity of biobased products produced by the AWT facility and measured in tonnes.
Tonnes (t)
Weighbridge protocol, as prescribed in section 5.3.
Per load and then summed for project period.
QC&D
Quantity of legacy waste received by the facility from construction and demolition sources.
Tonnes (t)
Weighbridge protocol, as prescribed in section 5.3.
Per load and then summed for project period.
QC&I
Quantity of legacy waste received by the facility from commercial and industrial sources.
Tonnes (t)
Weighbridge protocol, as prescribed in section 5.3.
Per load and then summed for project period.
QRES
Quantity of residual waste separated from legacy waste by the facility and sent to landfill.
Tonnes (t)
Direct measurement protocol, as prescribed in section 5.5.
Per load and then summed for project period.
ALproduct, p
Average load weight for each load of product type p that is transported from the AWT facility.
Tonnes (t)
Weighbridge protocol, as prescribed in section 5.3.
Per load and then averaged for project period.
RDProduct,p
Return distance trip from the waste diversion facility.
Kilometres (km)
Measured using a publicly available internet mapping tool, and rounded to the nearest kilometre.
Per trip.
FTQi
Quantity of fuel type (i), (whether solid, gas or liquid) used in the operation of the AWT facility.
Measured in tonnes (t), cubic metres (m3) or kilolitres (kL) - for solid, gas and liquid fuels respectively.
Invoiced amount of fuel usage, or as measured onsite use (for example, diesel from an onsite bowser).
Monthly, or as per invoice cycle, and summed for the project period.
FBF
average volumetric airflow exiting the biofilter process unit; or
the average volumetric airflow from a pipe or plenum immediately before the biofilter process unit.
Cubic metres of air per hour.
- Maximum design flowrate; or
- Anemometer.
At time of design
OR
Monthly
MEC
average methane emission concentration.
Milligrams of methane per cubic metre of air.
Calculated as the arithmetic average of all analysis results, in accordance with section 5.5.
In accordance with section 5.5.
Qelec
Electricity consumed.
kWh
Electricity metering.
Per billing cycle
5.3 Weighbridge protocol
(1) A weighbridge must be used to collect and record the total tonnes of each of the following:
(a) incoming legacy waste;
(b) other resources recovered;
(c) outgoing residual waste to landfill; and
(d) any loads rejected by the end user.
(2) Weighbridge records must be created and maintained for the following information for each load of legacy waste:
(a) vehicle registration;
(b) date and time received;
(c) weight of vehicle; and
(d) source (or provider) of the material.
(3) Weighbridge scales must be verified in accordance with the methods prescribed in the National Measurement Act.
(4) Any data relating to verification of the weighbridge used in the project must be recorded in accordance with section 5.7.
(5) Any persons responsible for operating the weighbridge must undergo training in relation to weighbridge measurement systems, load classification and reporting software.
5.4 Estimation methods
(1) This section applies if a matter specified in section 5.2 was required to be measured between 1 July 2010 and 1 July 2012, and measurements were not recorded.
(2) Matters required to be measured in accordance with 5.2 may be estimated where:
(a) the emissions from the source are incidental; and
(b) a methodology for estimating that matter has been developed.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), emissions are incidental if:
(a) the emissions source is less than 0.5 % of the total abatement for the period; and
(b) the total emissions from all sources estimated is not greater than 2% of the abatement for the relevant period.
5.5 Direct measurement and sampling protocol
(1) This section only applies when measuring and sampling methane emissions from composting.
Measurement
(2) All measurement must be conducted in accordance with Part 1.3 of the NGER (Measurement) Determination.
Sampling
(3) All samples must be:
(a) collected under the normal operating conditions of the project at the time of sampling;
(b) collected on at least 6 occasions, with no more than:
(i) 4 samples collected in the same month; and
(ii) 2 samples collected in the same week.
(c) analysed by an accredited and independent laboratory that meets the requirements equivalent to those prescribed in AS ISO/IEC 17025:2005.
(4) Sampling may occur up to 12 months after the end of the project period and be applied to the calculations.
Air sampling and measurement
(5) For air sampling and measurement, the following requirements apply:
(a) Measurement must occur:
(i) in a pipe or plenum; or
(ii) where no suitable pipe or plenum exists after air is treated —immediately prior to treatment in a pipe or plenum prior to the biofilter.
(b) Air sampling must be conducted in accordance with:
(i) an Australian or international standard; or
(ii) a method approved by the relevant State, Territory or Federal guidelines for air sampling.
(c) the standard or method must be one suited to enclosed pipes at the flow rate or flux rate of the relevant pipe or plenum.
Methane analysis
(6) For methane analysis, the following requirements apply:
(a) Analysis must be conducted:
(i) in accordance with US EPA method 18; or
(ii) an equivalent Australian or International Standard, or a method approved by the relevant State, Territory or Federal guidelines for determination of methane concentration in air.
(b) If the samples are collected prior to the air passing through a biofilter, the value determined by analysis may be reduced by 10% of the measured value.
(c) Results must be reported in milligrams of methane per cubic metre of air.
Division 5.3 Monitoring and recording requirements
5.6 General
The project proponent must monitor and record the information specified in this Division.
5.7 Monitoring requirements
Project monitoring plan
(1) The project proponent must develop a project monitoring plan that includes the following information:
(a) a project description;
(b) where the proponent is an organisation, an organisational description; and
(c) operational information about the project, including:
(i) variables in baseline emissions;
(ii) project parameters;
(iii) operations and activities requiring control to ensure abatement;
(iv) check of incoming loads;
(v) processing to recover value and meet product specifications;
(vi) identification of risks to abatement; and
(vii) control of risks to abatement;
(viii) where sampling is used, the sampling and analysis protocol.
(2) The project monitoring plan must include the following details in relation to any personnel who are involved in implementing the project:
(i) personnel training, including details of weighbridge training carried out in accordance with section 5.3;
(ii) required qualifications for personnel;
(iii) personnel responsibilities for monitoring and measuring; and
(3) The project monitoring plan must also include the following:
Preventative and corrective action
(a) procedures for corrective action; and
(b) personnel responsible for investigating corrective action;
Equipment used
(c) information detailing the equipment used, the purpose of the equipment and calibration procedures;
(d) information detailing calibration and testing of the weighbridge used in the project;
Project monitoring
(e) information with respect to project monitoring including the following:
(i) procedures for measuring and monitoring;
(ii) any estimation methods used in accordance with section 5.4;
(iii) sampling practices;
(iv) quality control practices; and
(v) statistical error;
(f) information detailing the project records required, the availability of those records and responsibility for maintaining records;
Project verification
(g) information relating to project verification including :
(i) timing of verification;
(ii) the process of verification; and
Other relevant information
(h) any other information relevant to the project.
Division 5.4 Record-keeping requirements
5.8 Records that must be kept
(1) The project proponent must keep records of the following:
Project monitoring plan
(a) the project monitoring plan developed in accordance with section 4.2 of this Methodology Determination;
General information
(b) process flow description of the facility;
(c) changes in process configuration;
(d) inventory of mobile plant and equipment such as front end loaders and excavators;
(e) independent audit records and results;
(f) maintenance records relevant to the operation of the weighbridge;
(g) details of any quality assurance accreditation;
Monitoring Devices
(h) information about weighbridge calibration and testing;
Data – direct and indirect measurement
(i) all values and calculations used to calculate the carbon dioxide equivalent net greenhouse gas abatement amount;
(j) weighbridge records on incoming and outgoing materials;
(k) evidence of fuel use;
(l) evidence of electricity use;
(m) evidence of other input use;
Division 5.5 Offsets report requirements
5.9 Report requirements
(1) The following information is required to be included in all offsets reports:
(a) carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount and number of years in the reporting period;
(b) number of years in any previous reporting periods (as applicable);
(c) independent audit report;
(d) total volume of waste processed at the AWT facility;
(e) all values and calculations used to calculate net greenhouse gas abatement;
(f) the project monitoring plan developed in accordance with section 5.7;
(g) total amount of fuel consumed in the project
(h) details of transport for products and residual waste
(i) landfill baseline emissions
(j) relevant emission factors
(k) If methane emission from composting is directly measured, report(s) from the independent laboratory.
Schedule 1—Average state or territory based landfill gas capture rates
State or Territory
Percentage capture rate value for R (Equation 1)
ACT
47%
NSW
24%
NT
25%
QLD
16%
SA
28%
TAS
33%
VIC
32%
WA
27%
Schedule 2—Percentage of waste mix types
Item
Waste Mix Type
Municipal Solid Waste
Commercial and Industrial Waste Default (%)
Construction and Demolition Waste Default (%)
1
Food
35.0%
21.5%
0.0%
2
Paper and paper board
13.0%
15.5%
3.0%
3
Garden and park
16.5%
4.0%
2.0%
4
Wood and wood waste
1.0%
12.5%
6.0%
5
Textiles
1.5%
4.0%
0.0%
6
Sludge
0.0%
1.5%
0.0%
7
Nappies
4.0%
0.0%
0.0%
8
Rubber and leather
1.0%
3.5%
0.0%
9
Inert waste (including concrete, metal, plastic and glass)
28.0%
37.5%
89.0%
Schedule 3—Waste mix types, degradable organic carbon content and DOCF values.
For the period 1 July 2011 - 30 June 2012
For the period 1 July 2010 - 30 June 2011
Item
Waste mix type
Degradable Organic Carbon value (DOCi)
DOCF value
Degradable Organic Carbon value (DOCi)
DOCF value
1
Food
0.15
0.84
0.15
0.5
2
Paper and cardboard
0.40
0.49
0.40
0.5
3
Garden and green
0.20
0.47
0.20
0.5
4
Wood
0.43
0.23
0.43
0.5
5
Textiles
0.24
0.50
0.24
0.5
6
Sludge
0.05
0.50
0.05
0.5
7
Nappies
0.24
0.50
0.24
0.5
8
Rubber and Leather
0.39
0.50
0.39
0.5
9
Concrete, metal, plastic and glass
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.5
Schedule 4—Prescribed Factors or Parameters
Factor or Parameter
Description
Value
The oxidation factor for near surface methane in a landfill
0.1
Note
1. All legislative instruments and compilations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments kept under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. See http://www.frli.gov.au.