Muswellbrook Shire Council has resolved to ask the NSW Independent Planning Commission to safeguard the Shire’s waste management facilities from accepting solar panels in landfill, as plans for a 135-megawatt solar farm 2.5km east of the town are assessed by the Commission.
The 300,000-panel project anticipates that 10% of panels for the project will be faulty when they arrive, or be damaged in transit or installation. Council says it wants to prevent a projected 30,000 damaged and defective photovoltaic (PV) panels from going into landfill.
The resolution to shield Muswellbrook Shire from landfill obligations during construction and the life of the solar farm also applies to private landfill, stipulating that faulty panels instead be recycled, rehabilitated or reused, said Muswellbrook Shire Mayor, Jeff Drayton.
Mayor Drayton said the Council’s stance sends a clear message that new energy generation will be held to high standards for the community and for future generations.
“Muswellbrook Shire is saying loud and clear, renewable energy projects must be sustainable and responsible for our residents and our environment,” he said.
“We have the benefit of learning from our experience with coal mining, making sure we are considering whole of life impacts of these long term projects. As a Council we’re taking a clear stand to make sure solar panels aren’t a future burden for our community but are actually a resource. By mandating that all defective panels during the life of the project are recycled and rehabilitated, we are setting the standard for new energy projects.”
Council Director of Environment and Planning, Sharon Pope said Council’s resolution aligns with the Shire’s commitment to minimise the footprint of energy generation.
“This resolution is consistent with our waste management strategies, to protect the environment and promote circular economy principles,” Ms Pope said.
“By requiring recycling and rehabilitation of damaged panels we align with the Australian Circular Economy Framework, which aims to double the circularity of resources by 2025.”
In addition to resolving to safeguard solar panels from landfill, the Council is working with other Hunter councils to establish a contract with a recycling company to address household panel waste.
“We’re not going to let the benefits of solar be undermined by bad waste management,” Mayor Drayton said.
“We are at the forefront of this important shift. This is leadership in action and Muswellbrook Shire Council is proud to set an example for others to follow.”
The application for the Muswellbrook Solar Farm was referred to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for assessment and determination in December. Submissions are due to close on 19 February.
