Renew Energy managing director Paul Taylor is adamant SIRRL won’t import waste, telling North & South reporter George Driver, “we would never embark on a plant if we thought that we were likely to have to import waste”. However, in 2018, when Stuff asked why the company was pursuing Westport as a location for its incinerator, Renew Energy’s then-chief executive David McGregor said; “One of the reasons for Westport was because of the port facilities. We can bring material from the [Pacific] Islands and Australia.”
Furthermore, in November 2018, McGregor briefed Buller councillors on the Westport proposal. In that briefing, McGregor said, “The plant would also help retain Westport Port because some waste would be shipped in.”
In September 2021, SIRRL hosted information sessions at the Waimate Event Centre, the Waitaki Council solid waste officer Steve Clarke asked Taylor if the company would import waste in the event it couldn’t acquire the 365,000 tonnes required each year. Taylor’s reply was, “We haven’t really considered it.”