14 | Facility taps green waste potential Ecogas T T Kelly Deeks REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Work is now well under way on Ecogas’s new Ōtautahi Christchurch Regional Organics Processing Facility, a major community-owned venture that will transform how Canterbury manages its food and green waste. The Hornby development marks a significant step forward in the region’s shift toward renewable energy and low-emissions fertilizer and will replicate the success of Ecogas’s pioneering Reporoa plant. Ecogas General Manager Operations Andy Bedford says the Christchurch project will build on proven anaerobic digestion technology already operating at scale in the central North Island. The Reporoa facility, which turned 3 in October, was originally planned as a 25,000-tonne plant, but expanded rapidly after Ecogas secured Auckland Council’s kerbside organics contract. It now processes 75,000 tonnes of organic waste every year, providing a more sustainable option than landfill and converting it into biomethane, electricity, CO2 for glasshouse production, and a nutrient-rich fertiliser. “That success has shown what’s possible when you treat waste as a resource,” Andy says. “Anaerobic digestion captures all the value in organic material. We’re producing renewable gas, electricity for the site and the grid, certified digestate products like fertify™, and CO2 that’s now used by Turners and Growers in their greenhouses. It’s a true circular economy in action.” Reporoa is also the first facility in New Zealand to inject upgraded biogas directly into the national gas transmission network. Andy said renewable gas remains an important part of New Zealand’s energy mix, providing low-cost, low-emissions heat in sectors where electricity is not yet a viable replacement. The Christchurch facility will take the model further. Designed to process up to 100,000 tonnes of food and garden waste each year, it will handle FOGO (food and green organics) from kerbside collections across the region as well as organic by-products from commercial and industrial sources. Larger woody material will be separated and chipped, while remaining organics will be processed into biogas, digestate, and a new biomass-based biofuel. Ecogas Christchurch ground breaking - from left, Andrew Fisher (EcoStock), Andy Bedford (Ecogas), and Jonathan West (Pioneer Energy). Andy says local partnerships will be key to the facility’s success. Ecogas will distribute its certified digestate on Canterbury farms in collaboration with Canterbury Spreading. “We like to work with people who know the region and have the right gear. Digestate performs best when it’s applied carefully through a dribble bar, not sprayed, and these guys are experts,” he says. Earthworks and foundation construction are already progressing on the Hornby site, with the build phase continuing through to April 2027. Ecogas expects to begin receiving limited FOGO volumes during commissioning and aims to be fully operational by October 2027, with efforts underway to bring that date forward. “It will be great for the region to have this running as soon as possible,” Andy says. “There are incredibly passionate people behind this project who want to deliver something that benefits Canterbury for the long term.” The project follows Environment Canterbury’s decision last year to grant resource consent for the facility, noting strict controls on odour management, material types, emissions monitoring, and environmental protection. All waste reception and pre-processing will be carried out inside a fully enclosed building with advanced ventilation and treatment systems. P 027 487 5639 Palmers Transport Limited For all your liquid and bulk cartage IlamHealth GEA Building Porsche Showroom ANZCO Office Building & Pocket Park We are very proud to be appointed main contractor for delivery of Stage 1 Siteworks and Buildings at Christchurch Organics Processing Facility (OPF). We look forward to delivering a successful project with the Ecogas team for this state-of-the-art facility.
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