Biowaste news
USA wastes 40% of food A new study by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says that US citizens, on average, are throwing away 40% of their food, and food waste has increased by 50% since 1974. This figured has been reached by calculating the difference between food supply and what is actually eaten. The figures have increased since a study last year which stated the US wastes 30% of food. TEG Group and Alkane Energy to collaborate The TEG Group Plc. has announced a collaboration with Alkane Energy Plc., to work together to develop AD facilities in the UK. The partnership of TEG Group, and Alkane Energy, intends to bid for contracts with local authorities and other customers, and will invest jointly when facilities are developed. The two companies have already submitted joint bids for the current round of Welsh Assembly Government tenders for AD facilities. They are also developing other projects together, where planning and permitting is being progressed with the aim of moving into the construction phase as soon as possible. TEG is expected to lead the bids and secure contracts and will also fund, construct and operate waste management and digestion plants. Water company welcomes AD Scottish Water Horizons, has seen the arrival of a new anaerobic digestion tank which will convert biowaste into energy at the Deerdykes Organics Recycling facility in Cumbernauld. The £7 million recycling unit will turn 30,000 tonnes of food waste into 8000 MW of power every year. The technology will hold food waste for 15-20 days and convert it to biogas. UK wants separate food waste collection Reasearch by the UK's Defra, led by Brook Lyndhurst and the Resource Recovery Forum and Waste Watch, has showed that 78% of the general public supports the idea of having separate food waste collection. The survey of 4000 households across the country also showed that two thirds of people said they used their separate food waste collection and 92% find it easy to use. The aim of the study was to find out: how householders respond to the provision of food waste collections how their response varies across socio-demographic groups and housing situations how service design affects behaviour which participation barriers need to be addressed through communications lessons from existing practice in the UK and overseas. The outcomes of the study were very positive showing that effective food waste collection schemes generate high levels of participation and capture 20%-50% of available food waste. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced last year that Defra was exploring potentially banning some materials such as food from landfill entirely. Commenting on the research, Mr Benn said: 'Our latest research is very encouraging as it shows that separate food waste collections are definitely working in the areas that are using them, and – more importantly – people are happy with them. We would like to see all local authorities collecting food waste as soon as possible and by 2020 at the latest.' The UK currently has 137 local authorities providing food waste collection for residents. 'It's not about making it more difficult for everyone to sort out their rubbish, and we'll be using the evidence from this research plus the experience of the areas introducing or extending food waste collections under the funding announced today by WRAP, to help us make decisions on the next steps,' said Mr Benn. Wood Energy exhibition The Bois Energie exhibition, which was called the 'world's first wood energy exhibition' when it began in 1998, will take place this year on 18-21 March 2010 in Saint Etienne. The show will feature exhibitors from every stage of the wood energy chain, including forestry machinery, chippers, pellet and briquette presses, domestic boilers, fireplaces, cogeneration, gasification and energy services among others. The show has been designed to give an insight into the main market trends, and show wood energy in action. There is a dedicated programme of conferences for visitors, including an update on the French pellets market on Thursday 18 March. Bio-butanol joint development programme Syntec Biofuel Inc announced it has entered into a joint development programme with the Energy and Environmental Research Centre (EERC) in January 2010 at the University of North Dakota. It will focus on converting a wide variety of biomass and waste into bio-butanol. Bio-butanol will produce a fuel which is closer to petrol than ethanol and it is also used as a solvent and as a chemical intermediate for organic synthesis, as a base for perfumes and paint thinners, and as a solvent in other coating applications. Waste-derived biofuel gives carbon benefits The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change has commissioned and released a report which concludes that making biofuel from waste, by-products and residues with no other end market reduces greenhouse gas emissions. One of the main findings of the report was that using MSW for biogas as a transport fuel would make net carbon savings of 193% compared to fossil diesel, but it also says that treating MSW with non-landfill methods to biofuel or bioheat applications could end up creating greater overall emissions. Ontario gives compost guidelines The Municipal Waste Association (MWA) has reported that the Ontario Ministry of the Environment posted 'Guideline for Composting Facilities and Compost Use in Ontario' for a 60 day public review and comment period. The objectives of the guideline were to: help Ontario increase waste diversion by increasing the composting of organic waste; assist the development of composting as a waste management option in Ontario prevent negative impacts on the environment by ensuring compost facilities in Ontario and the compost that they produce both meet high standards for quality serve as a reference document for the design, approval, and operation of safe composting facilities. The new draft guideline focuses attention on the quality of compost emerging from the province's compost facilities and warns against the risk of allowing people to use non-compostable bin liners and also against the inclusion of diapers. 'Allowing certain plastics poses technical challenges at the compost plant and plastic shards may remain in the final product, meaning it may only be suitable for low end-uses, ' the document says. 'Without appropriate mechanical processes specifically designed to manage these materials, diapers and sanitary products often remain mostly intact in the final compost product... Diapers have also been identified as a contributor to odour problems at compost facilities where accepted.' Organic waste makes up approximately one-third of Ontario's waste stream and consists of: leaf and yard waste household 'green bin' waste food from restaurants, hotels, schools and hospitals residue from food processing operations and supermarkets spoiled food sewage biosolids and septage pulp and paper mill biosolids. Copies of the consultation draft Guideline for Composting Facilities and Compost Use in Ontario – November 2009 (0.8 MB) can be downloaded from the Ontario Environment Ministry's website at: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/env_reg/er/documents/2009/010-6658.pdf More Waste Management World Articles More Waste Management World Issue Archives