Govt puts financial muscle behind mussel project

File photo / Hawke's Bay Today

The Government is shelling out $200,000 towards a scheme to recycle mussel shells.

Environment Minister Nick Smith said the scheme in the Nelson-Marlborough region would convert 27,000 tonnes of mussel shells into organic feedstock and fertilisers.

It would create jobs and wealth as well as reduce waste going to landfill, he said.

"Environment Sustaining Products Ltd is proposing to build a mussel shell processing plant in the region that will employ approximately six people and convert the waste into high-quality calcium products. Their ambition is to secure a site in coming months and have a plant operating later this year," Dr Smith said.

The $200,000 grant is from the Waste Minimisation Fund established in 2009 to try and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

- NZPA