By Celsias Team
Posted on Sept. 2, 2010. Listed in:
An innovative Kiwi technology used to breakdown waste is set to be piloted with the added boost of $1 million in funding from the Government’s Waste Minimisation Fund, Nick Smith has announced.
The research project involves Crown Research Institute Scion and Rotorua District Council, who joined forces in 2008 to develop a new approach to the management of organic waste.
"If the pilot is successful, this process could be expanded into other regions and other types of organic waste could be included in the future,” says Smith.
"This project is a clear example of how improving the environment and boosting economic growth can, and must go, hand in hand."
Scion’s Chief Executive Tom Richardson says this level of investment recognises the potential of the technology to return significant economic and environmental benefits not only locally but throughout New Zealand.
“This is very exciting news for Scion and our partner – the Rotorua District Council. This project enables us to take science out of the laboratory into a pilot plant where we can test the technology at a scalable level.”
The ‘Waste 2 Gold’ system utilises new technology to turn biosolid waste produced from Rotorua’s municipal wastewater treatment plant into valuable by-products, such as chemicals, fertilisers or energy.
Concepts for the technology arose from a Foundation for Research, Science and Technology funded programme, which developed approaches to improved liquid and solid waste management for the pulp and paper and related industries. The technology has the potential to reduce biosolid volumes 30-fold and also substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and leachates that arise from organic wastes.
The pilot plant will use a thermal deconstruction process that “cooks” the biosolids (sewage sludge) and breaks them down into re-useable nutrients and a range of other added-value chemicals. In addition, methane can be produced for electricity production.
“We see the potential of Waste 2 Gold to not only solve our waste disposal problem but to provide a revenue source from the converted waste. Rotorua has approximately 8,500 tonnes of biosolid waste going to landfill every year at a cost of $900,000. This project has the potential to further reduce all organic waste going to landfill,” says Rotorua District Council chief executive Peter Guerin.
Image: Flickr - Chiara Marra
