Understand
Derby's food waste collection scheme turns household scraps into heating and biogas
Overview
Since April, nearly 3,000 tonnes of food waste have been collected from doorsteps in Derby under a new council scheme. The waste is processed at Severn Trent Green Power's plant in Spondon using anaerobic digestion to create biogas, biomethane, and fertiliser, reducing landfill use and supplying energy to the national grid.
Key points
- Almost 3,000 tonnes of food waste have been gathered from Derby doorsteps since the scheme started in April.
- Food waste is taken to Severn Trent Green Power's plant in Spondon to be shredded, cleaned of packaging, and processed in anaerobic digesters.
- The anaerobic digestion process breaks down the waste at body temperature to release biogas, which is converted into biomethane and fed into the national grid.
- The initiative has helped Derby City Council reduce spending on general waste by about a third.
- Local residents have responded positively to the scheme, noting that it fits easily into household routines and highlights food waste habits.