Supermarket aims for zero waste landfill

Sainsbury's supermarket chain will become the first supermarket to send all its food waste for anaerobic digestion the process that decomposes food waste to release biogas which can then be used to produce electricity. Most other supermarkets are doing this as well, Asda is already sending 25,000 tons of food waste for anaerobic digestion. The benefit of this is that landfill food waste produces methane gas that is 21 times worse for global warming than carbon dioxide. South Korea and Japan recognised the value of this technology and developed state of the arts facilities to utilise food waste.  Read more ...

North Carolina pig farms using manure for electricity

Loyd Ray Farms in North Carolina have joined with a number of state pig farms to use manure in a digester to provide electricity. Duke University along with partners Duke energy and Google are testing systems that capture methane, a greenhouse gas from manure. The pig farms acting under state law to reduce emissions are becoming innovators, the methane gas fuels a small power plant that makes enough energy to run the waste-processing system and part of the farm itself. Also by utilising the manure in this way it allows the farms to reduce waste pits that can taint water and release harmful ammonia into the air. Read more ...