Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic Digestion is the process for turning food waste into energy and fertiliser. It is recognised as one of the most effective solutions for recycling food waste, due to its associated cost and carbon savings.
How does the Anaerobic Digestion process work?
All of our depots have access to food waste recycling facilities. This is because we have partnered with a number of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) specialists, all of whom provide recycling services for a wide variety of solid and liquid organic and food wastes via a network of industry-leading facilities.
The AD process produces two valuable outputs. Firstly, it produces renewable energy which is exported to the National Grid and used to fuel homes and businesses, helping to avoid carbon emissions.
Secondly, it produces digestate, a rich liquid fertiliser. Digestate presents a sustainable and environmentally friendly option for agriculture, as it has numerous benefits for soil health, crop yields, and the environment.
Our network of Anaerobic Digestion facilities provide a cost effective and environmentally friendly solution to recycling food waste
What are the cost benefits of using Anaerobic Digestion?
One of the most significant benefits of recycling your food waste via Anaerobic Digestion is how cost-effective it is.
Food waste weighs considerably more than other comparative waste streams, such as general waste.
Many establishments have to pay a premium because their general waste bins are too heavy and that is often due to unwanted or surplus food being thrown into those bins.
By segregating food waste from your general waste, it will reduce the weight of those bins and could lead to a substantial reduction in the size and frequency of your general waste collection requirements, therefore saving you money in disposal costs.
By sending this segregated food waste to Anaerobic Digestion treatment facilities, you will be sending less to general waste to landfill where it would be subject to the Landfill Tax, further reducing your disposal costs.
What are the environmental benefits of using Anaerobic Digestion?
There are many environmental benefits of sending food waste for recycling at Anaerobic Digestion facilities.
If food waste is sent to landfill, it biodegrades and releases harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, which contribute to climate change.
Anaerobic Digestion considerably reduces these emissions, in addition to producing valuable renewable energy and a nutrient rich fertiliser which has a number of environmental benefits for agriculture.
Does my business have to recycle food waste?
Every business* is required to segregate food waste from other waste streams, due to Simpler Recycling regulations.
*All businesses with 10 or more employees. Businesses with less than 10 employees have to comply from March 2027.
Can food waste go in general waste bins?
No. Businesses* are legally required to separate food waste from general waste. It must be collected and treated separately by a licensed waste collector, like Grundon.
*All businesses with 10 or more employees. Businesses with less than 10 employees have to comply from March 2027.