Masterton: Waste-to-energy concepts

Oxidation ponds Background Ruamahanga River

Masterton Wastewater Consent Wastewater consent renewal 2007 Majority discharge to water proposed Ponds leak to river Landfill consent expired late 2006 Municipal solid waste shipped to Manawatu

Alternative options Environmental Effects Climate Change cultural aspirations Economic evaluation infiltration End of pipe thinking Poor design Good design

Problem!

So what’s this got to do with energy? Sludge removal from waste stream appropriate Possible Energy harvesting by digestors, but from sludge alone not economic Other energy sources are available if an holistic approach is adopted.

Oxidation ponds Ruamahanga River landfill Transfer station Masterton Energy Hub

Combined waste streams – Integrated waste to energy Wastewater sludge Landfill gas capture (sewer runs adjacent to landfill) Removal of putrescibles (40%) from municipal waste Other (animal waste, irrigated coppicing firewood, other energy crops?)

BUT! Waste to energy marginally positive economic on generation alone Carbon trading Avoided waste shipping costs of $1M per year Environmental improvement Potential for Regional Digestion Cogen possibilities at Rec Centre and industrial

Holistic concepts problem Multiple benefits Holistic Approach river water quality Water shortages Drinking water quality Fire fighting ability Water supply costs Solid waste disposal costs Air quality unemployment Underheated elderly homes Council carbon footprint Excessive stormwater Water conservation education Electricity costs Wastewater treatment power costs Risk of sludge loss to river CLIMATE CHANGE Wastewater operational costs Too much effluent for land disposal Multiple benefits Increasing peaks in river flows Landfill GHG emissions

So far Comprehensive submission on MDC wastewater consent Coordination with Iwi, F&G, DOC Multiple environmental and social benefits from holistic approach Council have recently voted to replace the oxidation ponds

What now? Looking for a multidisciplinary team to carry out a detailed feasibility study on the Masterton waste-to- energy project. Government funding sought Partnership with a generator company sought Partnership with the local community

Massey Post-grad conference 2008