ANZBP - Lunch & Learn Webinar Series October 2023

Mr. Kevin Sears, Operations Manager 3 Waters, Taupo District Council

Presentation: Taupo Land Disposal 25 Years On

Kevin has been working in three waters operations for more than 30 years with almost 25 of those years at Taupo District Council. 

He holds a New Zealand Diploma in Wastewater, Water and Business Management and he is a certified Water Industry Professional in NZ.

In 2017 he was presented the Mentor of the Year Award in recognition of his long-term commitment to training and mentoring others in the industry.

Dr. agr. Michael Quintern, Independent Consultant – Presenting on behalf of Noke Limited

Presentation: From Challenges to Solutions: A New Zealand Perspective on Industrial Vermicomposting of Municipal Biosolids

Michael received his PhD in “Beneficial Utilisation of Organic Waste on Farmland” in soil science at the University of Kassel ( Germany). He worked for several years as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Soil Science on soil fertility in organic farming.

In 2006, Michael moved to New Zealand to work as a senior scientist at Scion, a Crown Research Institute, to develop a solution for organic wastes from the pulp & paper industry. He developed a solution for industrial vermicomposting of biosolids, food, and paper industry waste, founding Noke Ltd. in 2007. The vermicomposting operation has grown to be the largest globally. To date, MyNoke has diverted more than 1.3 million tonnes of organic waste, including more than 250,000 t biosolids, from landfills in New Zealand, with more than 140,000 tonnes being diverted annually.

Implementing Research & Development and Innovation into the vermicomposting business model was crucial for sustainable growth. Integrating vermicomposting into farm management and improving windrow management mitigated environmental effects and increased profitability. Michael has worked with councils and industries on tailored vermicomposting technologies for specific organic waste streams.