Earth Day: Why should businesses utilise anaerobic digestion?
What is Earth Day?
Earth Day is an annual global event celebrated on April 22nd, designed to raise awareness about environmental protection. Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 in the United States, with 20 million U.S. people taking to the streets in support of positive changes for environmental conservation. Today, Earth Day is celebrated all around the world, engaging people to take active roles in the mission to create a cleaner, greener world for all.
For more information about Earth Day, you can check out their dedicated website at: https://www.earthday.org/
How does Better Waste Solutions support environmental change?
Here at Better Waste Solutions, we are always thinking about the best ways our business and the companies that we work with can lessen our environmental footprint.
Better Waste Solutions provides an assortment of different waste management options that include a range of different recycling options. All of our waste management plans are designed to lessen the amount of rubbish sent to landfills and encourage eco-friendly practices.
One of our collection options is the removal of business food waste. We provide 240-litre food bins specifically designed for business food waste such as vegetable peelings, fruit, fish or raw meat, plate scrapings, milk, small bones, teabags, coffee grounds, and dough. This food waste can be bagged, but the bags must be clear.
For more information about the bin types and sizes we provide, visit our binpedia page: https://betterwaste.co.uk/binpedia
But as a business, have you ever wondered what happens to your food waste once it has been collected? The most common option for disposing of food waste is a process called anaerobic digestion.
What is anaerobic digestion?
Anaerobic digestion is the process of microorganisms breaking down biodegradable materials, such as food waste, in the absence of oxygen. Through the process of anaerobic digestion, certain types of crops and organic waste can produce bioenergy. During anaerobic digestion, a mixture of 60% methane and 40% carbon dioxide is produced, known as biogas. Biogas can be used to provide heat, power, and transportation fuel. If this biogas is purified to remove the carbon dioxide, it will produce biomethane. Biomethane can be transferred directly into the natural gas grid or used as fuel for some vehicles.
What are some of the benefits of using anaerobic digestion?
- Consistent Supply: One of the biggest benefits of anaerobic digestion is that this process will create a constant supply of power. As there will always be a supply of food waste, anaerobic digestion will forever be able to create a steady source of renewable power.
- Renewable energy: As this process does not rely on using natural resources to create energy, it has a huge impact on preserving our world’s natural resources.
- Usable By-Products: One of the by-products of anaerobic digestion is digestate, which can be used as fertiliser or in compost. This is a great source of non-chemical fertilisers that can be used on farms to grow more crops. This essentially creates a full circle, as the crops they grow will eventually end up back in the anaerobic digestion process.
- Reduced Methane Emissions: Methane is estimated to be around 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. During the process of anaerobic digestion, methane and carbon dioxide are captured and used to create energy and heat. This helps reduce the volume of these harmful gases being released into the atmosphere.
- Water Purification: Anaerobic digestion can be used to treat the waste water in food products, which can then be repurposed for irrigation or industrial use.
With a wide range of benefits, anaerobic digestion is an innovative process that has a positive effect on the environment and the production of renewable energy. Anaerobic digestion allows us to embrace green practices by unlocking the potential of our planet’s organic waste streams. Here at Better Waste Solutions, we support our clients on their journey to effective waste management practices. Join us in our mission to create a better future for our world through the various recycling options we have available and through the amazing process of anaerobic digestion!
Are you a business in Wales? Read about the 2024 changes to waste management regulations in Wales, including changes on disposing of food waste:
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Operating across the whole of the UKSupplier placement flexibilityNo hidden fees5 star Feefo service