A renewables industry proposal for a stewardship scheme for old PV panels was rejected at the federal level in part because it would have entailed a national ban on landfilling them.
The NSW EPA has slightly eased its proposed controls on ammonia emissions from waste to energy facilities, but has reserved the right to impose tougher limits where appropriate.
Anaerobic digestion of regional wastes will allow a food company to cut its use of fossil gas and grid electricity, and the community group behind the project will receive an annual dividend.
Veolia is proposing a waste to energy facility in NSW that would combust up to 380,000 tonnes of residual waste a year, with a capacity to generate 39MW of electricity.
The general manager of Mars Food Australia, which now sources 100% of its power from renewables, says groups such as Greenpeace are "positive provocateurs" that play an important role in securing good corporate performance.