Waste to energy option makes sense

Waste to Energy (WtE) is an effective option to recover energy, materials, reduce CO2 emissions and replace fossil fuels.

Approximately two thirds of household waste is categorised as biomass. WtE can recover two thirds as CO2-neutral energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Four tons of waste equals one ton of oil. Two tons of waste equals one ton of coal. WtE facilities emit less pollution per unit of energy input than combustion plants fired with oil or coal.

Methane as a global warming gas has a potency 21 times that of CO2. Dumps are the third-largest source of methane emissions globally. WtE does not release methane. The IPCC references WtE as a key greenhouse gas mitigation technology.

A Kaipara facility combusting 700,000 tons of waste annually could provide baseload power for 120,000 houses, recover 14000 tonnes of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and 200,000 tonnes of aggregates.

The NZ MFE [Ministry for the Environment — Manatū Mō Te Taiao] confirms 52 per cent of dioxins is from New Zealand’s landfills. Modern WtE plants remove pollutants such as dioxin. France has 124 WtE plants. Our rowers at the upcoming Paris Olympics will pass two on the River Seine. From these 124 plants, dioxin emissions are only 1.2g TEQ per year.

Residential combustion of wood is now the highest emitter at 320g TEQ. The entire US WtE industry produces just 3g of dioxin per year; by comparison, there are over 3000 US landfill fires reported every year, and they produce 1400g of dioxin.

Will WtE prevent recycling? Wales has the highest recycling rates in the world at 67 per cent (NZ is 28 per cent)

Methane as a global warming gas has a potency 21 times that of CO2.

yet still has four WtE plants. Globally, recycling rates are highest when integrated with WtE.

The Kaipara District council is committing $1.2 million over the next three years to monitoring our closed landfills. It’s difficult to manage what you can’t measure and with all councils this commitment will continue for an indefinite time with unknown outcomes. Internationally, modern WtE facilities using the best available technology are reliably performing well below strict statutory limits. Many provide real-time emissions measurements to the public online. A better option by far. Craig Jepson

Kaipara Mayor