Victorian Water Minister Harriet Shing launched the trial in Wangaratta, alongside North East Water and the Rural City of Wangaratta.
Gippsland Water and the Intelligent Water Network are project partners in this trial.
The trial will also inform the planned expansion of Gippsland Water’s organics recycling business at Dutson Downs, one of the largest circular economy operations in Victoria.
“Making biochar from sewage and green waste could prove to be a cost-effective way of reusing materials that would otherwise go to waste, improve environmental outcomes and provide a commodity we can sell to put further downward pressure on customer bills — we think that's worthwhile investigating,” Gippsland Water managing director Sarah Cumming said.
The ground-breaking trial will see biosolids from Wangaratta’s wastewater treatment plant mixed with the city’s green waste then processed into biochar in Melbourne.
The carbon-rich form of charcoal is used to improve soil health and boost agricultural productivity.
This project stops these valuable resources going to landfill and provides potential for future carbon sequestration and the trade of carbon offsets.
If the Wangaratta waste streams are proven to be suitable during the trial, a local facility will be considered to process large volumes of biochar for possible use on the region’s farmland with the potential to generate jobs for the region.
North East Water, Gippsland Water and the Intelligent Water Network will invest $160,000 in the first stage of the trial with the Rural City of Wangaratta.
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