Food industry advised to burn rather than compost waste

The chair of the government's Renewable Energy Advisory Board on Biomass, David Williams, will brief members of the food industry in Cambridge tomorrow that biomass energy generation is the “best option” for food waste.

” For the putrescible component of waste the choices are to compost, which produces methane, or to burn it – and if you want more green energy burning is the best option. “
– David Williams, Renewable Energy Advisory Board on Biomass
He believes companies should develop small-scale biomass plants to generate energy from their waste.

Chairing a group of specialists from Barclays Bank, Eversheds and Deloitte, Mr Williams will state his belief that the waste hierarchy has “got in the way” of biomass technology.

Speaking prior to the meeting, Mr Williams explained: “Waste reduction is all very well, but it takes time and I think the waste hierarchy has got in the way. For the putrescible component of waste the choices are to compost, which produces methane, or to burn it – and if you want more green energy burning is the best option.”

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According to Barclays Bank, the UK produces 30 million tonnes of food waste a year – a third from food waste we throw away, a third from out-of-date supermarket waste and a third from food manufacturers.

The bank explained that investment in biomass and similar technologies to treat waste was a “huge” growth area, which “killed two birds with one stone” – by creating energy and disposing of waste. The bank said it had already invested heavily in biomass projects.

John Laud, who works as a relationship director in Barclays' food, drink and packaging sector, explained that increasing labour and fuel costs and pressure to reduce prices for supermarkets, had put particular strain on the food industry.

He said: “Many companies are merging and consolidating, creating economies of scale and turning waste into a resource is another way they can make savings.”