How the process works
Once we’ve emptied your caddy, your food waste is taken to a specialist anaerobic digestion facility just over the county border in Merevale in Warwickshire or Cannock.
Creating energy and fertiliser from your left overs and scraps ...
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The food waste you put out each week goes on a journey to create energy and fertiliser from your left over scraps! Here's how ...
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First, the food waste liners are removed leaving just the food to be processed.
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The liners are washed, and sent to an energy-from-waste plant.
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The food waste is then shredded and mixed with liquid to make a smooth, porridge-like mixture.
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This mixture is pumped into large, sealed tanks called digesters.
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Inside the tanks, natural bacteria break down the food waste over several weeks.
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This produces biogas, a renewable energy made mainly of methane and carbon dioxide.
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The biogas is used to generate electricity and heat for the site and nearby businesses.
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What remains is a nutrient-rich liquid called digestate, which farmers use as fertiliser to improve soil and grow crops.
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So full circle - some of the food fertised by your scraps may end up back on your plate and back in your caddy - ready to do it all again!
By recycling food waste separately:
- Energy is produced more efficiently.
- Valuable nutrients are recovered.
- Waste is treated using a process designed specifically for food.
- Carbon impact is lower than incineration.
- Food waste recycling supports a circular approach, where waste is reused in the most effective and sustainable way possible.
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