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ANAEROBIC DIGESTION Policy hot potato Landfill bans are likely to be a key topic at this year's AD & Biogas 2015 show. Charlotte Morton sets the scene. he AD sector is maturing, with 185 plants now in operation across the UK. And yet, only 12% of the 15 million tonnes of food waste generated every year is recycled through AD. Banning food waste from landfill would require councils and businesses to adopt source-segregated collections as the norm. According to Wrap's latest audit (page 13), Wales is leading the way with almost all local authorities offering some form of food waste collection service. Scotland and Northern Ireland are making positive progress with only about a quarter of local authorities failing to offer any food collection (either separate or with garden waste), and legislation in place to drive further progress. Indeed, Northern Ireland should be commended on its decision to ban organic waste to landfill (see opposite). The absence of similar policies in England is severely constraining the operation and development of food waste 18 Local Authority Waste & Recycling June 2015 T Charlotte Morton is chief executive at the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association When: 1-2 July 2015 Where: NEC, Birmingham Who: Expert speakers from UK councils, businesses and consultancies What: Two-day conference programme, 22 seminar sessions and 250 exhibitors UK AD & Biogas 2015 www.nrm.uk.com PAS110 Appointed Testing Laboratory 2334 Divisions of Cawood Scientific • Process Optimisation Analysis • 24/48 Hour Turnaround on Key AD Process Parameters • Feedstock Suitability Testing • ABPR Pathogen Testing • Bio-Methane Potential Test • PAS110 Appointed Laboratory • Digestate and Soil Analysis for EA Deployment/ADQP • Residual Biogas Potential Test • Analysis of Trace Element Supplements Expert Laboratory services to the AD Industry For more information please contact Sean Stevenson 01344 898467 sean.stevenson@nrm.uk.com Duncan Rose 01344 898467 duncan.rose@nrm.uk.com plants, which in some cases are already experiencing difficulties in sourcing feedstock. Only about half of England's local authorities offer any form of collection, and there is currently no vision from central government. If a ban were rolled out across the country, HM Treasury has estimated that local authorities and businesses would save £465-475m annually in avoided landfill tax. Of course, the cost implications for any council opting to introduce source segregated food waste collections will depend on compatibility with existing refuse collection policy. For example, those councils needing to update their waste collection fleet or offering weekly garden waste collections are likely to find source segregated waste services a more cost- effective solution when compared against those that do not. But where food waste collections are well integrated, there can be tangible savings. Peterborough City and East Dunbartonshire councils saved £500,000 and £680,000 respectively when they adapted their refuse services and included food waste collections. Getting the right variation of waste collection is critical to ensuring a cost-effective, popular service. The key message to households and businesses must be to enshrine the value of food in the public consciousness to ensure that we waste less and better recycle inedible food waste. The food waste hierarchy demonstrates where improvements can be made in avoiding and managing food waste – and banning food waste from landfill is one step towards moving waste up the hierarchy. " There can be tangible savings from food waste collections "

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