Up until now, both Biffa and PDM Group have handled food waste from Sainsburys. None of it is currently sent to landfill, but some goes to other energy processes. However, under the new arrangement, all food waste will be collected from Sainsburys distribution centres across the UK, then processed atanaerobic digestion (AD)plants around the UK.
Anaerobic digestion is the process by which organic waste is broken down in the absence of oxygen to produce digestate which can be used on land as a fertiliser and a biogas consisting of which can be then used to generate energy.
Announcing the new contract today (October 28), Neil Sachdev, Sainsburys property director, said: Anaerobic digestion is the most efficient way to create energy from waste, so this new contract means our food waste is being put to the best possible use. It has taken quite some time for us to get into a position where we are able to send all of our food waste to AD due to a lack of facilities in the UK. However, I am pleased to see that the waste industry is catching up with demand for this green technology.
This new contract builds on our existing leadership position on AD, making us the largest retail user of AD in the country.
Biffa
Some of Sainsburys waste will be sent to Biffas super AD plant in Staffordshire, which is the biggest in the UK, processing up to 120,000 tonnes of food waste from homes and businesses every year. The facility launched in June 2011 (see letsrecycle.com story) and has already started to produce energy. At full capacity it is expected to produce renewable energy to power up to 10,000 homes. A digestate is also produced that is used as a soil conditioner under a three-year contract with 4Recycling (see letsrecycle.com story).
The plant forms part of Biffas expanding network of AD plants and follows on from the launch of its National Food Waste Recycling Service for businesses earlier in the year.
John Casey, director of engineering and quality at Biffa, said: Anaerobic digestion is a key means of dealing with food waste it is taking food that could once only be sent to landfill and turning it into something of value. Were very pleased to be working with Sainsburys our food waste collections are giving the company a real boost to help it meet its environmental targets.
Sainsburys said that it limits the amount of food waste it produces through good stock control and accurate sales forecasting, whilst any surplus food which isnt sold but is still fit for consumption is sent to local charities and organisations such as FareShare, who redistribute the supplies.
Food that cannot be consumed is collected by Biffa and processed to generate energy.
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