Cornwall Council has reported that approximately 36,000 tonnes of food waste has been recycled over the past two years. This waste is processed at an anaerobic digester, converting it into methane to generate electricity and produce fertiliser.
The council hopes that increased public participation, driven by an understanding of the benefits, will help meet its target to recycle nearly two-thirds of Cornwall's waste by 2029. Councillor Loic Rich, portfolio holder for environment and climate change, stated that the current recycling rate is just over 50%.
The food waste is transported to a digester in Holsworthy, Devon, operated by Severn Trent Green Power. Chris Lofts, the site manager, explained that the waste is filtered, has water added, and is then fed into a digester to create methane. This methane fuels engines that run generators, producing electricity for the National Grid. The by-product, digestate, is used as fertiliser by farmers.
Lofts noted that recycling food waste is more environmentally beneficial than incineration, which produces ash and generates less electricity. He added that the Holsworthy site can process about 1,100 tonnes of food waste weekly, generating enough electricity to power 8,500 homes. Council analysis indicates that food accounts for 22% of black bag rubbish in Cornwall, with 43% of that still in its packaging.