Fascinating tour shows how food waste is transformed into green energy
Councillors and residents witnessed cutting-edge sustainable technology in action during a fascinating tour held as part of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s (WHBC) Great Big Green Week.
The group visited Severn Trent Green Power’s North London Anaerobic Digestion facility in Coursers Farm on Wednesday (10 June), where they learned all about how food waste is transformed into green energy that powers homes and businesses.
Anaerobic digestion uses microorganisms to break down food waste into biogas, which is used to generate heat and electricity. The North London facility processes around 75,000 tonnes of solid and liquid waste a year, including from Welwyn Hatfield, generating 3 megawatts of renewable electricity and producing a nutrient-rich bio-fertiliser.
The guided tour of the plant was held as part of Great Big Green Week – the UK’s largest celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature. Together with partner organisations, the council has organised a number of free and low-cost events to celebrate Great Big Green Week as part of its commitment to help tackle the climate emergency.
WHBC provides separate green food caddies for residents to put their food waste in so that they can recycle as much of their waste as possible, with collections taking place every week. The council recently expanded its food waste service to residents in some flats and maisonettes, providing them with new kitchen caddies and communal bins, along with an easy-to-follow guide, to further increase recycling rates.
Councillor Jane Quinton, Executive Member for Environment, said:
“Every day the food waste that residents collect is sent to this cutting-edge anaerobic digestion facility where it is transformed into clean, green energy that powers our homes and businesses. This not only creates energy, it reduces harmful landfill.
“I encourage everyone to use their separate food waste bins so that we can all help to protect our environment and build a more sustainable future for our communities.”