Ecogas' Ōtautahi Christchurch Organics Processing Facility has entered its next stage of development.
The facility, to be located on Aruhe Road in South Hornby, combines biomass processing with anaerobic digestion to transform organic waste from kerbside collections, businesses and industry into renewable energy and biofertiliser.
In October last year, Christchurch City Council granted land-use consent for the project, and on 13 August this year, Environment Canterbury approved the resource consent, clearing the way for the facility to begin operations in early 2027.
“Securing these consents has been a major milestone,” said the company. “We’re now moving into detailed site planning, contractor selection and preparing for construction next year.”
The facility, designed to handle up to 100,000 tonnes of organic waste annually, will feature four large anaerobic digestion tanks, with room for a fifth.
The biomass processing line is flexible enough to manage short-term peaks, while future expansion remains possible.
Spread across three hectares, the compact site is significantly more space-efficient than conventional landfills or composting operations.
Ecogas’ dual-system design allows wetter organic waste, such as kerbside food scraps, to be treated in the anaerobic digestion tanks, while fibrous green waste is converted into renewable fuel through biomass processing.
Local businesses in South Hornby and beyond will be able to tap into this renewable energy resource.
Construction is expected to start in 2026, with the facility beginning to accept organic waste in early 2027.
Community members with questions about the resource consent process are encouraged to contact Environment Canterbury.
Ecogas advances Christchurch biomass plant to next phase
