Fears of a public backlash hinder use of recycled effluent
Food companies are missing out on huge savings through waste water recycling in their processes because they fear a backlash from the public, who they suspect would be horrified to learn that treated effluent had been used to clean foodstuffs, says an expert in the field.
Speaking at a seminar at the IWEX water conference last week, sponsored by ‘’Food Manufacture’’, Neil Johnston, director of Alpheus Environmental, which designs, builds and operates water treatment plants on behalf of many food and drink companies, said the problem is that recycled effluent is ”emotionally unpalatable”
While the latest treatment processes result in water that is cleaner than tap water, said Johnston: ”In some quarters there is an emotional barrier to using recycled water.” In contrast, he added, ‘closed-loop’ effluent recycling was “the norm” in the US food industry.
Another barrier to uptake is that there are no standards for recycled water here, claimed Johnston. Also, there is the issue of insurance in terms of “reservation charges”: it would be necessary to ensure a back-up water supply should the treatment plant break down, and this could amount to tens of thousands of pounds.
Food and drink is by far the largest industrial consumer of water in the UK, said Simon Miller, deputy project manager for the Water Technology List at Envirowise, the government body tasked with helping industry become more environmentally sustainable.
Food companies involved in its Big Splash project to generate water savings launched last year, include Geest, Premier Foods, Headland Foods and Brakes. “We are making very big savings,” said Miller.
Envirowise is also working with Tate & Lyle, McDonald’s, Asda and Waitrose to help improve the environmental performance along their long supply chains.
On February 14 next year Envirowise will be running a major event at the NEC where companies will be able to get free advice via drop-in clinics and workshops on reducing water, waste and energy.
