Biffa Helps Birds Eye Close in on 'Zero Waste'

13 March 2012 A partnership with waste management company, Biffa has enabled frozen food manufacturer, Birds Eye reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by 21% in the last 12 months. According to the food manufacturer, the initiative forms part of a waste improvement plan which it hopes will enable it to reach its goal of sending zero waste to landfill by 2014. For its part, Biffa said that it is providing Birds Eye with a complete 'Integrated Waste Management' (IWM) package - including Biffa staff working from its site in Lowestoft and the appointment of 'waste champions' to find new opportunities for further recycling. Following an extensive audit of the site, Biffa said that it worked with food company to put procedures in place to drive up recycling rates whilst finding new ways to recycle. For example, the company now composts any waste potato and vegetables not fit for animal feed. This year also sees the introduction of a waste cooking oil collection service. The oil will be processed into bio-diesel to power 40 of Biffa's collection vehicles. Birds Eye's food waste, including animal by product waste, is sent to Biffa's flagship anaerobic digestion (AD) facility in Cannock, Staffordshire. Opened in June last year the facility can process up to 120,000 tonnes of food waste each year and generate enough energy to power 10,000 homes. "Biffa is working with Birds Eye to find markets for recycled materials whilst reducing spend on waste disposal," explained Biffa IWM general manager, Edward Pigg. "It is a good example of how food manufacturers can improve environmental performance and reduce long-term costs by putting waste management at the centre of their day to day operations," he added. Biffa said that it has also visited Birds Eye sites in Europe to offer expertise and advice on cutting waste and costs. Read More Supersized Biowaste Treatment to ADmire Packaging often proves a challenge for biowaste processing facilities. A new 'super' £24 million anaerobic digestion facility in the UK has the technology to overcome this and well as set the standard for large-scale infrastructure, explains Ben Messenger. First Council Collected Food Waste to Biogas Facility for Wales Gwynedd Council has appointed BiogenGreenfinch as preferred bidder for the construction of a proposed biogas to energy facility to treat food waste in North West Wales. UK Anaerobic Digestion Industry on a Role Says WRAP Report WRAP has published a report documenting the current Anaerobic Digestion infrastructure situation in the UK which shows 5 million TPA capacity and rapid growth. Free Magazine Subscription Free Email Newsletter