Making Green the New Business as Usual
12/1/2008

2008 Innovations Review

Environmental Defense Fund 

Food waste = energy

How this is innovative: While commonly used to generate energy from agricultural waste, anaerobic digesters can do the same with food scraps.

Why throw food scraps away when you can turn them into energy? Not only does food waste tax landfill capacity, but when left to rot, it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Taking a cue from the agricultural sector, food industry innovators are starting to invest in anaerobic digesters—large tanks in which bacteria break down organic material and produce natural gas for energy.
 
Bellisio Foods is one of the first. The maker of Michelina’s and other national frozen meal brands is now building its second 5.25 million gallon digester at its production facility in rural Ohio. When complete, the company estimates that it will process all of its food waste each day, generating enough power to run two of the plant’s nine boilers and reducing its total greenhouse gas emissions.
 
The $6 million project is a major capital investment, but one that some state incentives and Bellisio Foods’ long-term vision make possible. After an estimated four and a half year payback period, the company expects to save roughly $1.3 million a year in energy, landfill and transportation costs.
 
With food waste accounting for 26% of total edible food in the U.S., such efforts could play a significant role in reducing landfill demands and curbing emissions.
 
Full article available by here.
2008 Innovations Review – Environmental Defense Fund (www.edf.org)

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