Wales is leader in AD, minister claims

Mr Jones said that Wales is the only country in the UK with a national programme to address the problem of food waste through ‘significant’ funding.

His comments came at the official opening of organics recycling firm Biogens 6 million anaerobic digestion plant in Llwyn Isaf near Caernarfon, which will treat over 11,000 tonnes of household and business waste from the council per year.

Built under a 15-year contract with Gwynedd council, which will provide the feedstock for the plant, Prosiect GwyriAD is Wales first purpose built facility to treat food waste collected by local authorities.

In total, the Welsh Government has provided almost 2.4 million to support the project, which is the first of three Biogen plants to be built in Wales, with facilities scheduled for construction in Waen, Rhuallt near St Asaph, and at Bryn Pica in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Mr Jones said: Prosiect GwyriAD demonstrates what can be achieved by the Welsh Government working closely with the local council and the project team. Wales is the only country in the UK with a national programme to address household food waste, and we have provided leadership to local government and the market with our ambitions, as well as significant funding.

Thanks to Prosiect GwyriAD, 11,000 tonnes of waste a year will avoid landfill, where it would generate greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, the plant has created jobs locally and generates 3,500 megawatt hours of renewable electricity for the national grid enough to power every home in nearby Penygroes continually for a year.

Gwynedd

Also speaking at the launch event, Gwynedd councils cabinet member for environment, councillor Gareth Roberts said: We are very proud that the GwyriAD plant is now fully operational it is the first facility of its kind delivered by a Welsh Council and underlines Gwynedds commitment to finding new green ways of dealing with the countys food waste.

As well as processing more than 150 tonnes of household food waste every week in a sustainable and responsible manner, the GwyriAD plant will also produce natural biofertiliser to be used on local farmland and produce green electricity.

In July 2013, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales toured the Biogen facility, who was said to be interested in how central and local government were supporting AD developments (see letsrecycle.com story).

And, in November last year, the plant was declared fully operational by Biogen after completing its 12 month build and commissioning phase (see letsrecycle.com story).