Reducing Commercial Food Waste
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In the UK alone, we produce around 10 million tonnes of food waste annually, but only 1.8 million is recycled. However, this is about to change with the implementation of the Government's Simpler Recycling Scheme, in which all businesses and households must recycle their food waste, amongst other waste, correctly.
The aim is that we, not just businesses, but as a whole society, start looking at the waste we produce as a valuable resource. But reducing commercial food waste can play a huge part in this.
Key Points
- Food waste recycling is important to avoid food waste going to landfill, where it releases harmful gases into the atmosphere.
- Introducing alternatives to landfill such as anaerobic digestion can have several positive impacts on the environment.
- There are numerous benefits to your business that introducing a food waste recycling process can bring.
What is food waste?
In simple terms, food waste refers to “any food and inedible parts sent to specific food waste destinations, where ‘food’ is defined as any substance that was once intended for human consumption” – WRAP
This includes crops that couldn’t be harvested or were harvested but remained unused due to shifts in demand. Further along the supply chain, it also encompasses unsold food, whether prepared or unprepared. For a deeper dive into this topic, you should read into our blog on the food waste hierarchy.
Why is recycling food waste so important?
When food waste ends up in a landfill, it decomposes and releases harmful gases into the atmosphere. However, recycling food waste offers a more sustainable alternative through a process called anaerobic digestion (AD). This process captures the gases released during decomposition and converts them into electricity, which can be used to power homes and businesses. Any surplus gas is treated and injected into the national gas grid as biogas, helping reduce environmental impact while providing valuable energy for society.
But that’s not all—there’s still some leftover material once the food waste has broken down. The liquid by-product (digestate) is a nutrient-rich biofertiliser, perfect for farmers to use on their crops, supporting sustainable agriculture and aiding in the growth of more food!
How does recycling food waste benefit your business?
Aside from having to recycle food waste due to the Government Regulations, it comes as a huge benefit to you to do so. Recycling food waste can help you with:
1. Saving on Costs
- Reduced Disposal Costs: Sending food waste to landfill can be expensive due to rising landfill taxes and fees. Recycling food waste through anaerobic digestion is more cost-effective.
- Efficient Waste Management: Streamlining waste processes can save money and free up resources for other business operations.
2. Becoming Sustainable
- Lower Carbon Footprint: Recycling food waste reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with landfills, helping businesses meet sustainability goals.
- Energy Production: Contributing to anaerobic digestion transforms waste into renewable energy (electricity or biogas), which supports green energy initiatives.
3. Enhancing Reputation
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability boosts brand image and appeals to environmentally conscious customers.
4. Positive Community Impact
- Supporting Local Agriculture: The biofertiliser produced from recycled food waste benefits local farmers and strengthens the community’s food systems.
- Contributing to Renewable Energy: Providing resources for renewable energy benefits society and the local economy.
How can BioteCH4 help you with your food waste?
With a bespoke food waste management plan, we can help you to recycle your food waste easily, and cost effectively. We take care of all the paperwork, permits and licensing, so you can sit back and relax, knowing that you, and your food waste are in safe hands.
To learn more about how we can work with you, and what waste we can help you with, head over to our Commercial Food Waste Recycling page, or get in touch.
