Take-up of food waste collections by councils 'disappointing'

The levels of take-up for food waste collections by councils is disappointing, according to an expert.

Alan Lovell, chief executive of Tamar Energy, has said that the slower than anticipated take-up rate is one of the obstacles to the growth of anaerobic digestion in the UK. 

He said that since launching in February this year, his company has secured around £97 million in funding for 44 anaerobic digestion facilities. It is hoped that these plants will help to produce 100 MWh of energy production capacity over the next five years.

In addition, Tamar Energy has been given a number of composting plants from Countrystyle - a waste management firm from Kent. A further four sites with anaerobic digestion planning permission have also been granted.

However, there are many obstacles to the company achieving its energy target, Mr Lovell explained, reports letsrecycle.com.

The complex process required for getting funding, planning consent and the availability of feedstock are all hindrances, he noted.

The expert also highlighted the slow growth in separate council food waste collections. This means that the company has to look for additional organic waste streams to treat.

"The take-up of food only collection has been somewhat disappointing, the number of councils doing so has actually dropped in the last six months from 73 to 70. The ability to handle commingled collections is something we are after," he commented.

Mr Lovell was speaking at  the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association’s (ADBA) national conference in London on Wednesday (December 12th).

He noted that the company wants to get as many projects off the ground as possible, but acknowledges that the number of facilities proposed may simply not be successful.

“We are relatively lucky that we can build on the balance sheet and are not looking for project finance but even so it is very complicated and is bound to take some time," he said.