Council's sustainable operations
As one of the largest employers and service providers in the region, Tweed Shire Council is committed to leading by example and reducing the environmental footprint of its operations.
Council does this by:
Monitoring and reporting on its environmental performance
Reducing energy, water and waste
Efficient vehicle and fleet management
Installing renewable energy
Purchasing that considers ethical, social and environmental factors
Reporting Targets Renewable energy Efficient operations Sustainable procurement Efficient vehicles
Council’s Environmental Sustainability Performance Report
1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025
Key outcomes include:
- 15% increase in Council’s greenhouse gas emissions this year, especially increased diesel, electricity and wastewater treatment plant emissions.
- Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred affected on solar operations and monitoring issues negatively impacted on electricity use figures.
- Greater diesel and petrol use in operational plant and fleet was needed to fuel generators during extended power outages and to support 7 days per week clean-up operations after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Diesel vehicle travel increased by 32%.
- The population served and volumes of wastewater treated increased by over 30% contributing to greater fugitive emissions from wastewater treatment plants.
- Office waste increased, while 47% of waste was diverted from landfill for reuse or recycling compared with 57% last year.
- Electronic processing reduced demand for printing by 14%.
- 88% of construction and road material waste was repurposed.
Check out the 2024-2025 report(PDF, 149KB) to find out more.
In 2025 Council was awarded an A- rating under the Global Covenant of Mayors’ program for its action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, identifying – and adapting to climate change and increasing access to clean and affordable energy. Read more
(JPG, 136KB)Click to view full size image. Greenhouse gas emissions from Council operations since 2015
2023-2024 outcomes
Key outcomes from Council’s Environmental Sustainability Performance Report from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 include:
- 5% decrease in Council’s greenhouse gas emissions, due to reductions in grid electricity use at Council facilities and street lighting, and reduced mileage and transport fuel use in Council’s fleet and machinery
- Council tripled its capacity to generate its own electricity from solar, reaching 12.5% of its electricity self-generated
- Water use in public parks and Council facilities increased by 4%
- 12% drop in waste generation at Murwillumbah Civic Centre, of which 57% is diverted from landfill for recycling and composting
- Photocopier prints increased for the second year in a row, up 4% from last year. New administrative systems are expected to reduce future demand for printed paper use
- Construction and road material waste collected dropped significantly compared to last year, with 86% of that material repurposed.
Check out the 2023-2024 report(PDF, 85KB) to find out more.
2022–2023 outcomes
Council saw a 19% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2021–2022 thanks to a drier year, less electricity use particularly in water and wastewater pumps and treatment and a return to pre-flood patterns of vehicle use.
Other environmental outcomes from Tweed Shire Council's operations include:
- Since setting a target in 2016/2017 for 50% less emissions from electricity by 2025, Council has achieved a 30% decrease.
- Council returned to pre-flood patterns of vehicle use. As a result, transport fuel use and associated emissions reduced by 48%, after peaking during the February/March 2022 flood response.
- LPG emissions increased slightly as cremations increased by 19%.
- At Murwillumbah Civic Centre, 55% or 18,450kg of materials were diverted from landfill.
- Printed paper use increased 8% in line with the number of staff returning to work sites, post-COVID.
- Water use in public parks increased by nearly 80% due to less than half the rainfall recorded compared to the previous year.
Check out the 2022–2023 report to find out more.
2021–2022 outcomes
The main outcomes for the 12 months to July 2022:
- Council’s carbon footprint increased by 7%: Greenhouse gas emissions from transport fuel nearly doubled compared to last year due to extensive vehicle and equipment fuel use in flood recovery.
- Emissions from electricity use in streetlights halved compared to last year due to the replacement of 6,400 streetlights with LED lightbulbs.
- Council purchased renewable energy credits equivalent to approximately 1,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions to meet it’s ‘25% reduction in emissions from electricity’ goal.
- Office printing reduced by nearly 30% compared to last year.
- Water used to maintain public parks decreased by 24% due to high rainfall. Water use in Council facilities remained steady.
- Hybrids make up 40% of Council’s passenger vehicle fleet.
- Less roads, construction and recycled asphalt materials were collected due to the focus on flood recovery and reduced infrastructure works however, recycling rates in construction and road material were maintained.
Check out the 2021–2022 report(PDF, 125KB) to find out more.
2020–2021 outcomes
The main outcomes for the 12 months to July 2021:
- Council’s carbon footprint is 6% smaller: 1,200 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions were avoided; that’s the equivalent of 68 average households going carbon neutral.
- 17% reduction in electricity-related carbon emissions: Council is on track to meet its 25% target by 2022.
- Streetlights in the Tweed now use LEDs: switching to energy efficient streetlights has reduced electricity emissions by 14%.
- Council’s passenger vehicle use increased due to COVID-19: carbon emissions from Council’s petrol vehicles nearly doubled. Council uses 38 hybrids in its 104 passenger vehicle fleet.
- Less paper use: photocopy prints continued to decrease with more office staff working from home due to COVID-19.
- Less water use: better rainfall nearly halved Council’s water use in maintaining Tweed’s public parks.
- Recycling rates in construction and road material were maintained.
Check out the 2020–2021 report(PDF, 88KB) to find out more.
2019–2020 outcomes
The main outcomes for the 12 months to July 2020:
- Council’s carbon footprint is 4% smaller: 791 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions were avoided - that’s the equivalent of 44 average households going carbon neutral.
- A 9% reduction in electricity-related carbon emissions: Council is targeting 25% less emissions from electricity from 2016/2017 by 2022.
- Making renewable energy while the sun shines: 555kW of new solar has been added to Council facilities. Renewable energy generation increased by nearly 90%.
- Less paper use: photocopy prints decreased with office staff working from home due to COVID-19.
- Less fleet vehicle travel: passenger vehicle travel was down by nearly 10%.
- Council recycles 90% of the construction and road material it uses.
Check out the 2019–2020 report(PDF, 115KB) to find out more.
Our emissions reduction targets
Council has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its electricity use by 25% by 2022 and 50% by 2025 compared to a 2016/2017 baseline. Since setting a target, Council has achieved a 30% decrease to date.
Renewable energy
Council's Renewable Energy Action Plan has led to more than 2,000 kW of solar panels installed at more than 20 Council facilities, saving 3,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually – the equivalent emissions of 150 average households.
Facilities with solar include:
- Banora Point Wastewater Treatment Plant – 607kW
- Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre – 165kW
- Tweed Regional Art Gallery – 198kW
- Tweed Heads Administration Office – 99kW
Council is now investigating feasibility of further solar installations, with consideration of asset suitability and cost-benefit analysis.
Download Council's Renewable Energy Action Plan(PDF, 1MB)
Energy efficiency
Council’s facilities are being progressively improved to reduce their environmental footprint, with the following actions completed:
- Skylights and rooftop solar in Tweed Heads Library upgrade.
- LED lights and motion sensors in Murwillumbah Civic Centre.
- Energy efficiency in TRAC pool facilities including:
- onatural ventilation: by folding doors and louvres and external walls make the most of natural ventilation from breezes in summer.
- ovariable speed drives on circulation pumps improve the efficiency of motors.
- metal halide lamps have been replaced with LEDs.
- Replacement of wastewater treatment plant aging blowers and Return Activated Sludge pumps with new high efficiency units - their replacement has reduced their power consumption by up to 7%.
- Reduce peak load consumption by pumping in off-peak times and designing networks to maximise the use of gravity for water and wastewater delivery.
Adoption of Sustainable Design Guidelines for Council Buildings Protocol(PDF, 835KB)
Revolving Energy Fund
In 2020, Council established its Revolving Energy Fund (REF), where savings from energy efficiency upgrades could be set aside to fund new energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction initiatives for existing infrastructure.
Initiatives implemented under the REF (e.g. solar heating for swimming pools, energy efficient lighting retrofits, power factor correction systems) have reduced local greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 600 tonnes of CO2 each year.
To find out how you can save energy at home, visit: How you can take climate action
Water efficiency
Water efficiency measures have been adopted to protect and conserve one of our most precious resources in the Tweed. The following actions have been completed:
- Water efficiency in TRAC pool facilities through timed showers and pool blankets to prevent water loss
- Using native plants and mulch in Council gardens to reduce the need for watering
To find out how you can save water in your home or business, visit Water savings and restrictions
Waste reduction
Council continues to implement measures to avoid and manage waste, including:
- separation of waste streams at Council depots to maximise reuse and recycling of recoverable materials
- adoption of single-use materials and packaging policy to avoid use of disposable foodware and event materials across Council facilities, operations and events
- rollout of more Return and Earn collection points in public parks to increase recovery of bottles and cans and reduce contamination in public bins.
To find out more, visit Recycling and reducing waste.
Sustainable procurement
Council’s purchase decisions compare the consider the environmental and social impacts of the goods and services we buy.
We invite suppliers to demonstrate how their business operations, experience, goods or services have a lower environmental impact or create positive social outcomes when they are bidding for Council contracts.
To find out more, visit Doing business with Council
Efficient vehicle and fleet management
Council’s use of carbon-based fuels in our vehicle fleet is responsible for approximately 14% of the organisation's greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts to reduce our footprint include the following:
- A fleet of bicycles for staff corporate and healthy active transport use
- Hybrid vehicles available on the lease-back vehicles list for Council's passenger vehicle fleet.
- Electric vehicle trials and use-case reviews for cost-effective return on investment and emissions reductions.
To find out more about electric vehicles and charging, visit Electric vehicles.