Horizons Regional Council will hear first-hand this week from Bio Plant Manawatu NZ Ltd about a proposal to divert waste from the council’s Feilding landfill and turn it into energy.

Bioplant Manawatu NZ Ltd chairman Kieran Pollard says the proposal will enable the region to stop adding so much to the landfill and to instead turn waste into valuable energy.

The plant will be a game changer as New Zealand deals with a growing waste issue, he says.

“Too much of our plastic waste has to be dumped in landfills. With pyrolysis we have an opportunity to address this problem and make a real contribution to improving Aotearoa New Zealand’s environment.”

The technology, while new to New Zealand, has been used for at least 15 years in Japan and South Korea. The plants operate in those countries with minimal impact on the environment, with emissions a fraction of those of the average home fireplace.

There had been some misleading information put out about the proposal, including that it would encourage more waste, but the goals and methods of sorting waste material by Bio Plant Manawatu NZ Ltd were similar to those of waste minimisation groups.

“All of us want to reduce the amount of waste going into holes in the ground.”

Kieran Pollard says the pyrolysis process is the most scientifically effective and efficient process available.

“The technology is proven internationally. Bio Plant Manawatu NZ Ltd’s scientifically monitored and measured process will ensure excellent results for the people of Manawatu.”

About 140 public submissions were received on the pyrolysis plant proposal’s application for a resource consent – 60 per cent of them in support.

The resource consent hearing for Bio Plant Manawatu NZ Ltd’s proposal is set to run from Tuesday July 19 till Thursday July 21.

Kieran Pollard will be attending the hearing.

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