Science – Waste to Energy: Fonterra’s opposition

Headlines in the Waikato Herald last November read “Fonterra opposes Te Awamutu waste to energy plant proposal”. This is a clear message to other waste to energy (WTE) plant proposals being considered across New Zealand. An article in the last issue of Mahurangi Matters (Apr 15) was headlined, “Kaipara Mayor promotes waste-to energy for fast tracking”. Given the importance of Fonterra to the NZ economy, this divergence is worth exploring.In its submission, Fonterra opposed the Te Awamutu WTE proposal in its entirety. It stated that as a food manufacturer, it had concerns about potential impacts of a WTE plant on food safety. It said the risk of contaminants entering the dairy manufacturing facilities was a risk to Fonterra’s food safety certification and to the health and safety of 330 staff and contractors who work at the Te Awamutu site. Fonterra said that, as it had clients overseas, it was also concerned about the impact a WTE proposal would have on its reputation. Importantly for the Kaipara WTE proposal, Fonterra also noted that its experience with other WTE facilities was that they had not been established near food processing operations.

The risks to human health from WTE facilities arise from the dispersal of toxic dioxin, furan and related emissions onto grasslands, farmlands and paddocks, where dairy cattle, beef cattle and sheep are grazing. The animals consume grass which is contaminated with dioxins and furans, which then appear in milk and other dairy products, as well as beef and lamb meat products. This applies to both NZ and international consumers.

There are other risks including to children and schools in the Kaipara region. The World Health Organisation states that dioxins can cause reproductive and development problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and cause cancer. The USA Communicable Diseases Centre has described dioxins and furans as affecting people’s health from even low environmental exposures. People who have been unintentionally exposed to substantial amounts of these chemicals have developed a skin condition called chloracne, liver problems and elevated blood lipids.

Fonterra’s 2022 revenue was $23 billion, and the number of employees is 19,608. The importance of Fonterra to the NZ balance of trade is clear in the fact that the company is responsible for approximately 30 percent of the world’s dairy exports. The food health risk that arises from WTE contaminants and emissions could place Fonterra’s international market at risk.

The recently improved Auckland waste recycling system makes the case for a WTE facility even less persuasive. Globally, the Circular Economy, which is based on recycling waste, is now adopted by many global companies including Coca Cola, Pepsi, M&S, Unilever, and others. The hundreds of NZ companies committed to sustainability and recycling are listed in www.greendirectory.co.nz.