The UK throws away around 15 million tonnes of food waste per year (Defra/WRAP). Businesses account for just under half of this food waste through food production, food preparation waste or left-over food.
Why recycle food waste?
Much of this food waste is currently sent to landfill sites where it is broken down into methane and carbon dioxide, both powerful greenhouses gases that contribute significantly to climate change.However Anaerobic Digestion (AD) technology is increasingly being used in an innovative way, converting the organic carbon in food waste into a natural gas (biogas) which can then be used to generate electricity and heat.
How Biffa recycle
Biffa already operates a number of food waste treatment facilities in the UK, enabling up to 100,000 tonnes of food waste per year to be recycled or reused.
In April 2011 our new state of the art AD facility
opens in Cannock, Staffordshire, doubling our food waste capacity and
helping our customers towards achieving their zero waste to landfill
ambitions.
We will also use, where appropriate, nominated 3rd party food waste recycling facilities to ensure that any environmental impacts of delivering the service are minimised. Biffa are at the forefront of building a national network of AD plants in the UK, enabling our customers to recycle more of their waste whilst supporting the development of renewable energy.
