World-first, New Zealand-designed sludge elimination plant opens in Hamilton

19 JUNE 2008

For Immediate Release

The official opening of the STERM™ (Sludge Total Energy Recuperation Module) plant in Hamilton is remarkably timely with the growing concerns about wastewater disposal and carbon fuel usage, not to mention the incredible environmental benefits and global trade opportunities that the new technology presents.

The ground-breaking technology developed by Enviro Energy Ltd addresses one of the world’s most challenging pollution problems – the sustainable elimination of human waste. Minister of Trade Hon Phil Goff will launch the revolutionary STERM™ at Hamilton’s Wastewater Treatment Plant on Friday, June 20.

Developed by Hamilton-based Enviro Energy, the STERM™ eliminates sludge – the end product of wastewater treatment plants – which is traditionally either loaded into trucks and dumped in landfills, or applied to land as fertiliser, or composted.

The STERM™ process incorporates a unique drying process that converts dewatered sludge into a sterile fuel which is recycled to provide energy for the system, leaving only an inert sand/ash as the end product. This remaining sand/ash represents a 93 per cent reduction of the wet sludge processed and can be used commercially as, for example, road aggregate.

Enviro Energy’s managing director Rob Arblaster says the STERM™ is world-leading.

“Through its unique drying system, it converts the sludge into a fuel. This fuel is then recycled and the energy produced used to power the plant.

“We have been developing it for 16 years and are now at the point where it is ready to be used in a commercial environment. It’s safe and offers triple bottom line advantages: economic (huge carbon fuel savings); social (no odour affecting local communities); and environmental (sustainable elimination of wastewater sludge). Everyone wins.”

ENDS

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