by Brianna Crandall — June 24, 2011—Leading U.K. waste specialist Biffa launched on June 17 the United Kingdom’s first super-sized anaerobic digestion (AD) plant converting food waste into renewable energy near Cannock, Staffordshire.
The new facility, the largest in the U.K., will process up to 120,000 metric tons of food waste from homes and businesses every year to produce enough renewable energy to power 6,000 homes, and a soil improver that can be used in the same way as compost.
Every year, the U.K. throws away around 15 million metric tons of food waste (source: Defra/WRAP), and it is estimated that around half of this comes from businesses. Much of this food waste is currently sent to landfill sites where it breaks down into methane and carbon dioxide, both powerful greenhouse gases that contribute significantly to climate change, notes Biffa.
The Cannock facility is the latest in a long line of commitments from Biffa to turn more of the U.K.’s food waste into something of value on an industrial scale. It forms part of Biffa’s expanding network of AD plants and follows on from the launch of its National Food Waste Recycling Service for businesses earlier in the year.
A video clip of the new facility is available to view on the Biffa Web site.
