Waste-energy plan absence rankles
A proposed waste-to-energy plant in Feilding has attracted a sizeable wedge of submitters’ interest on the district’s Waste Management and Minimisation Plan, despite the venture being outside the scope of the scheme.
About one quarter of the 93 public submissions on the draft plan criticise it for not including reference to Bio Plant, which has leased land on Kawakawa Rd from Manawatū District Council for a pyrolysis operation, and is seeking resource consent from Horizons Regional Council.
Residents and environmental activists have launched a petition against the plant, claiming it would encourage waste generation so that it could run and discharge contaminates to the air.
Angela Baker, from Rethink Waste Manawatū, made a detailed 10-page-long submission and said the waste plan was not complete without mention of the pyrolysis plant.
‘‘The public response is based on the way a plan is drafted. We are extremely concerned that the pyrolysis plant hasn’t got a mention in the plan.
‘‘Why is it mentioned in quite understated ways and that, too, only in the waste assessment document?’’
A waste assessment report on Manawatū District Council’s website stated the council was in talks with a private company to convert waste to energy via a pyrolysis plant.
Ellieda Komene from Environment Network Manawatū said the waste planning documents needed more detail.
‘‘While the council says its vision is to enable a circular economy for all waste streams, it also proposes energy from waste via a pyrolysis plant. It is in contrast to its vision and goals.’’
What the plan did cover was three new kerbside proposals; kerbside collection with bins instead of bags, weekly kerbside collection of food waste, and kerbside collection of recyclable waste in rural areas.
Some submitters said the plan was focused on a kerbside waste collection model that may lead to more waste generation.
Oral submissions on the waste plan will be heard today.
Horizons has publicly notified the resource consent process for Bio Plant’s pyrolysis plant. Over 140 submissions have been received, and a public hearing is scheduled on July 19.