Bristol, England: The Quality Protocol for the production and use of quality outputs from Anaerobic Digestion has been launched this week by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and the Environment Agency, with the aim of encouraging technology that reduces the amount of organic waste sent to landfill.
The Quality protocol is intended to define when the digestate produced ceases to be waste and falls outside the tight waste management regulatory regime. This means that it is easier for customers to use products such as fertilisers and soil conditioners without falling foul of the regulatory system.
Anaerobic digestion
Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is a natural process of microbiological break-down of organic matter. The process has certain benefits over other methods of organic waste treatment. The digestate resulting from AD can be used as a fertiliser and biogas can be used to generate electricity.
Dr Richard Swannell, Director of Retail and Organics at WRAP, said:
“Anaerobic Digestion and the market for products from the AD process are still in their infancy in England and Wales. However, the development of a Quality Protocol will help remove a major barrier to deploying this important technology and open up the market for digestate by giving users confidence in the end product.
“Quality compliant products from the Anaerobic Digestion process will provide users with confidence that these new products derived from waste material conform to agreed quality standards. This in turn will make it easier for industry to market and sell them.
“In the long-term, greater use of products derived from the AD process could reduce the amount of organic waste being sent to landfill and save producers the associated disposal costs.”
Martin Brocklehurst, Head of Environment Protection External Programmes at the Environment Agency, commented:
“By clearly defining the standards required to collect, transport, store, recycle and reuse source-segregated biodegradable waste, a Quality Protocol for AD could save businesses the time and costs associated with meeting waste regulations, without harming human health and the environment.
“We have worked with the Renewable Energy Association, Environmental Services Association and Composting Association to develop this Quality Protocol. We have now opened this up to consultation and are keen to hear the views of industry and other stakeholders.
“With the recent Defra announcement of a £10 million fund to develop commercial-scale demonstration AD plants, this initiative will add to the growing presence of the technology as a means to treat organic waste.”
Further information
It is possible to participate in the public consultation and find further information by visiting
http://qp.dialoguebydesign.net.
Further information on the Waste Protocols Project can also be found on the WRAP website at
http://www.wrap.org.uk.