Lincolnshire to gain new food waste recycling site

The UK-based anaerobic digestion​​ (AD) operator BioteCH₄ ​intends to build a new plant at the Hemswell Cliff Site near Gainsborough, following approval from Lincolnshire County Council’s Planning and Regulation Committee on Monday 3 June.

AD is the sustainable process of recycling food waste into methane-rich biogas and biofertiliser. Food waste enters a building where it is processed into a liquid ‘porridge’, and then pumped into the AD plant.

The bacteria then feeds on the food waste, breaking it down to produce biogas. Biogas is captured and used as a fuel in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units to produce renewable electricity and heat​​, or it’s cleaned and sent directly to the gas grid.

The waste is pasteurised to ensure that any pathogens are destroyed and the biofertiliser (digestate) is stored in large lagoons ready to be applied on farmland when the crops require it.

Last year, BioteCH₄​ recycled over 600,000 tonnes of food waste across its six sites, transforming it into 300MWh of energy.

Its new 6MW AD plant will include a waste reception building, three digesters, a gas bag and a new access road. It will produce a quantity of green energy that is equivalent to powering more than 19,000 homes when fully operational.

According to BioteCH₄​’s chief commercial officer, Lee Dobinson, the facility will increase the group’s processing capacity by 200,000 tonnes annually.

“This will allow us to meet growing demands for food waste recycling, increase green energy outputs, and further strengthen our voice as market leaders,”​ he added.

In other news, Food Manufacture finds out what six of the UK's leading trade associations for food and drink want from the next UK Government, as the general election looms.​​