Biogen Opens 45,000 TPA Food Waste to Biogas Plant in Hertfordshire, UK

Bedfordshire, UK based anaerobic digestion and biogas firm, Biogen, has opened its 45,000 tonne per year Bygrave Lodge food waste facility AD facility in Hertfordshire. The company, which designed, built is running the plant, explained that it will process food waste collected from supermarkets, food processors, households and the hospitality industry to generate enough energy from waste for up to 4500 homes in Hertfordshire. The plant currently takes food waste from retailers including Ocado and ASDA, as well as local businesses Simmons Bakeries, KP Waste and The Grove Hotel. In addition to renewable energy, Biogen said that the plant also produces a nutrient-rich agricultural fertiliser for use on nearby farmland. “The Bygrave plant was developed to serve Hertfordshire and the surrounding regions and although it’s only been up and running a short while, it is already making a positive contribution to local businesses using it,” commented Simon Musther, head of commercial operations for Biogen. Peter Williams, bakery director for Simmons Bakeries added: "We chose Biogen for our food waste disposal because of its convenient location, good road access.” “Using this method is going to help us cut costs which is essential for a family business like ours," he added. Read More £100m Fund for Advanced Waste to Energy & Small Scale Recycling Projects in UK The UK’s Green Investment Bank is to invest £50 million into a new £100 million fund targeting smaller-scale recycling and advanced waste to energy projects across the UK. St Helens Council: Kerbside Collected Food Waste IS Being Recycled Following Bag Swap In the North West of England, St Helens Council has moved swiftly to reassure residents that food waste collected by recycling teams does NOT go into landfill sites. EBA Report: European Biogas Industry Continues to Grow, but is there Trouble Ahead? The number of operational anaerobic digestion plants producing biogas in Europe has risen to over 14,500 according to the European Biogas Association’s Biogas Report 2014.