Sludge Watch ==> New Zealand - stinky sludge composting site stops after 1500 complaints

[Maureen Reilly]

The Dominion Post
New Zealand

Human waste compost to end
The Dominion Post

18 December 2007



A decision by Wellington City Council to stop turning human waste into 
compost at the southern landfill has been greeted as a breath of fresh air 
by locals.


Over the past seven years the council has received more than 1500 complaints 
about the stench created at the compost plant off Happy Valley Rd.

The council will halt the existing composting operation when its contract 
with the facility operator – Living Earth Ltd – terminates at the end of 
next year.

The news was welcomed by Brooklyn Residents' Association president John 
Macalister.

"It has been a nightmare that we have had to live with for far too long," he 
said.

A long-term neighbour of the landfill, Warren Cox, was also looking forward 
to stink-free days. Stop the Stench action group founder George Halley was 
delighted for the community.

"This was desperately needed because this council has been the most 
discourteous council we have ever had."

The council's environment portfolio leader, Celia Wade-Brown, acknowledged 
the council had failed to solve the smell issue.

"We have worked with Living Earth . . . in a bid to reduce the smells. 
However, it has not been possible to adequately reduce odour and we know 
this has not been to the satisfaction of our neighbours," she said.

The council's CitiOperations manager, Mike Mendonca, said many activities at 
the landfill were odorous by nature but he expected residents to experience 
a big reduction in smells from the plant after next December.

Living Earth general manager George Fietje said the company would continue 
to make compost from the 3000 tonnes of green waste brought to the landfill 
each year.

The compost plant has processed about 130,000 tonnes of de-watered sludge 
from Moa Pt and Western (south Karori) treatment plants, and has produced 
25,000 cubic metres of compost a year.

Over the coming year the council will investigate a joint venture with 
Porirua City Council in which sludge from both areas would be artificially 
dried, turned into pellets, and used to generate gas which could be turned 
into electricity.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4328092a23918.html