Food waste processing is 'worth the extra effort'

Recycling food waste in Cornwall is proving to be worthwhile, according to Cornwall Council. They have been collecting leftover food at an anaerobic digester in Holsworthy, Devon, since 2021, where it is transformed into methane to generate electricity and fertiliser. Since the service's inception, approximately 36,000 tonnes of food waste has been recycled. Council officials hope that raising awareness of the benefits will help them reach their goal of recycling nearly two-thirds of Cornwall's waste by 2029.

At the Holsworthy digester site, operated by Severn Trent Green Power, the food waste is initially filtered, then water is added and it is fed into a digester to create methane. This methane is then used to power generators that produce electricity, which is injected back into the National Grid. The digester also utilizes the heat to pasteurise the material on site for additional services.

Any remaining by-product, known as digestate, is used as a fertiliser for farmers to help crops grow. Council officials emphasize that recycling food waste is more environmentally friendly than throwing it in the bin to be incinerated, as incinerators produce residual ash that requires disposal.

Chris Lofts, site manager, explains that the site can process about 1,100 tonnes of food waste weekly, enough to power 8,500 homes. Council portfolio holder for environment and climate change, Councillor Loic Rich, lauds the residents' engagement with food waste recycling and stresses the importance of taking responsibility for the planet's damage from pollution.

He hopes that understanding these benefits will lead to a decrease in the amount of food waste sent to incinerators and an increase in the recycling rate. Currently, food waste makes up 22% of black bag rubbish, with 43% still in packaging. Rich urges residents to consider the advantages of recycling food waste and aims for a 65% recycling rate by 2029, depending on public support.