Our Edgecumbe site specialises in producing high-value products –anhydrous milk fat, casein and caseinates, whey protein concentrate, milk minerals and lipids.
Edgecumbe is one of only two sites in New Zealand that manufactures sodium caseinate for Fonterra’s customers to use in a variety of nutritional products. It is also the only site that produces calcium caseinate.
We employ about 380 people at the site, who are actively involved in the local community – supporting education, the environment and emergency care.
Treated process wastewater
We’re committed to doing what’s right for the long-term sustainability of the Co-op and our communities both environmentally and financially. One area that’s a focus for us is water.
At all our manufacturing sites, we take steps to make sure our plants are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible with limited impact on the environment. Treated process wastewater is a result of our manufacturing cleaning procedures and small amounts of milk residue that is then either used on our nutrient management farms or disposed of as per consent conditions.
In addition to treating process wastewater, where we can see there’s opportunities to save water, we are investing in water saving initiatives at a number of our sites throughout the country.
What we are doing
The treatment of process wastewater starts with our operations.
We make sure our cleaning processes are optimised and milk residue is minimised. This limits the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and other organic components in the water.
We use a range of treatment processes to clarify and clean the wastewater before we irrigate onto nutrient management farms or discharge it once treated in accordance with our consent.
Currently, wastewater that is discharged to the river from our Edgecumbe site passes through a dissolved air floatation (DAF) unit that removes contaminants from the water. These plants clarify process wastewater by releasing dissolved air under pressure, which attaches to suspended fats and solids as it rises to the surface of the DAF tank, removing them from the process wastewater.
Wastewater is also irrigated onto local farms where it provides water and nutrients to the grass.
Why we need a new process wastewater treatment facility
Edgecumbe is in the process of gaining consent to develop a new process wastewater treatment plant.
We are committed to improving the quality of our process waste water. We will achieve this through both ongoing in plant improvements and the construction and commissioning of a wastewater treatment plant.
We believe this will improve our environmental outcomes with minimal impact to the community.
Fonterra and Whakatāne District Council, with input from iwi technicians representing Ngāti Rangitihi and Ngāti Awa, are in the final stages of a feasibility study into a joint wastewater scheme .
This scheme would combine the municipal sewage from Edgecumbe and Whakatāne with dairy process wastewater from Fonterra Edgecumbe. If the scheme is feasible, Fonterra will be able to cease discharging its wastewater to the Rangitaiki River and the town of Edgecumbe can cease discharging its wastewater to the Tarawera River.
The project group is aiming to put forward a recommendation to Whakatāne District Councillors in early 2025.
Our nutrient management farms
We own 29 farms throughout the country around our manufacturing sites to help us with our treatment of wastewater from our manufacturing operations and nutrient management.
At Edgecumbe we utilise 2 of these farms, as well as a number of third-party farms within the region.
Process wastewater from our factories can be irrigated onto grasses and other crops to help them grow.
Where we don’t have stock on the farms, we harvest the crops to turn into animal feed. This creates a circular model for nutrient management, which provides us with a system that is good for the environment as well as the business.
References and Reports
Next Community Liaison Meeting Date: 25 March 2025 at 6pm
Community Meeting September 2024
Edgecumbe Community Meeting Slides
September Community Meeting Minutes
Community Meeting March 2024
Edgecumbe Community Meeting Slides
March Community Meeting Minutes
Community Meeting September 2023
Edgecumbe Community Meeting Slides
September Community Meeting Minutes
Community Meeting March 2023
March Community Meeting Minutes
Edgecumbe Community Meeting Slides
Memo - Hautapu WWTP MRA Summary
Edgecumbe - NIWA Assessment of Bioaerosols 2018
Community Meeting November 2022
Edgecumbe Community Meeting Slides
Edgecumbe WWTP Meeting - Minutes
Application to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Earthworks and Discharge to Air)
BOPRC Consent Applications & AEE
Appendix A - BOPRC Form 2A (Earthworks)
Appendix A - BOPRC Form 4C (Discharge Contaminants to Air)
Appendix A - BOPRC Resource Consent Application Details Form
Appendix B - Records of Title
Appendix C - Concept WWTP Plans
Appendix D - Residential Development Plan
Appendix E - Odour Assessment Report
Appendix F - Concept Stormwater & Flood Management Assessment Report
Appendix G - Preliminary Site Investigation Report
Appendix H - Alternative Sites Report
Appendix I - Whakatane District Council Activity Status Assessment
Appendix J – Summary of Consultation
Application to the Whakatane District Council (Land Use)
WDC Land Use Consent Application & AEE
Appendix A - Whakatane District Council Consent Application Form
Appendix B - Records of Title
Appendix C - Concept WWTP Plans
Appendix D - Residential Development Plan
Appendix E - Concept Stormwater & Flood Management Assessment Report
Appendix F - Preliminary Site Investigation Report
Appendix G - Alternative Sites Report
Appendix H - Integrated Transportation Assessment Report
Appendix I - Noise Report
Appendix J - BOPRC Activity Status Assessment
Appendix K - Landscape, Natural Character and Visual Assessment Report
Appendix L – Summary of Consultation
Contact information
Email: edgecumbecommunity@fonterra.com
Environmental Phone Number: 07 922 7121