Ecogas collaborates with Napier City Council to manage food waste after Cyclone Gabrielle
In February, Cyclone Gabrielle caused destruction in the Hawkes' Bay region, prompting a quick response from biogas company, Ecogas to collect organic waste in the area.
The company collaborated with the Napier City Council to manage the aftermath of the storm, specifically the food waste resulting from power outages that caused spoilage in fridges and freezers.
To prevent a potential public health issue, Ecogas worked with the Council and Pattle Delamore Partners (PDP - environmental consultants) to design and carry out a plan to manage the food waste.
Together, they developed a process that diverted as much food waste as possible from the landfill to the Ecogas Organics Processing Facility in Reporoa, where it could be converted into biogas, biofertiliser and CO2.
The process involved Napier City Council delivering plastic bags for the waste along with instructions to the community, which was collected from six locations per day over five days. The waste was then taken to the Ecogas facility, where specialised machinery separated the packaging from the organic waste.
Thanks to Ecogas, the Napier City Council, and Hastings-based Emmerson Transport Limited, which supplied drivers and trucks, over 60 tonnes of food waste was collected and given a second life as renewable energy and biofertiliser.
As Ecogas Director, Andrew Fisher, explains:
"We saw from Cyclone Gabrielle the value of having a timely and responsible method to handle food waste in a disaster.
“Ecogas was able to step in and quickly assist with the management of this public health issue and stop the spread of disease and pests from further hampering the recovery efforts."
The Ecogas facility uses an anaerobic digestion process to break down organic waste into two core products: digestate and biogas. The nutrient-rich digestate is used as fertiliser on local farmland in Reporoa, while the biogas is used at the plant and nearby glasshouses.
See the 7 Sharp segment to hear Andrew Fisher from Ecogas.
Find out more about a sustainable gas future at Future Sure.