NEW ANNAN, P.E.I. — Cavendish Farms, one of North America’s biggest french fry producers and a member of the Irving group of companies, officially opened a new bio-gas plant Friday at its potato processing operations in Prince Edward Island.

The company said the new plant will help clean up pollution at its operations and is a first for the potato industry in North America.

Although many plants treat waste water produced from processing, the Cavendish plant also takes the solid waste material from french fry production and, through composting, converts it into energy for the Cavendish plants.

Cavendish Farms president Robert Irving said the new plant will cut greenhouse gas emissions from the Cavendish Farms operation by 30 to 35 per cent.

“It is a true win-win for Prince Edward Island,” he said.