Output details

Co-digestion of source segregated domestic food waste to improve process stability

Significance of output:

Anaerobic digestion is a key technology for diversion of organic waste from landfill to meet Directive 99/31/EC. The major contribution of this Defra-funded work (WR0212) is to show how food waste diverted from landfill can be co-digested with cattle slurry which is itself a major contributor to EU greenhouse gas emissions. Combining these high-tonnage wastestreams provides a solution that gives a stable process and maximises emissions abatement, while contributing to renewable energy targets. The work demonstrates the potential for co-digestion with fibre-based packaging as a second option to optimise the process and improving the overall energy balance.