Pictured above: (l-r) John Casey (Director of Engineering
and Quality) and Ian Wakelin (Chief Executive Office)
Leading UK waste specialist Biffa have launched the UK's first
'super' anaerobic digestion (AD) plant dealing with food waste near
Cannock, Staffordshire.
The new facility, which is the biggest in the UK, will process
up to 120,000 tonnes 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.
Speaking at the plant launch, Biffa chief executive Ian Wakelin
said: "This is the future of waste. It is taking food that could
once only be sent to landfill and turning it into something of
value on a truly industrial scale. It is a key milestone in
society's drive to reduce waste, cut emissions and recover the
inherent value in our waste."
The Cannock facility is the latest in a long line of commitments
from Biffa to handle more of the UK's food waste. 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.
Ian Wakelin added: "We all want to recycle more. It is
initiatives like this which allow us to do so with minimum effect
on our day to day lives at home or at work."
Every year, the UK throws away around 15 million tonnes of food
waste (source: Defra/WRAP) and it is thought 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.