Food Waste

With existing landfill sites rapidly reaching their maximum capacity and new site locations strictly limited, safe waste disposal and recycling are two of the most important issues currently under scrutiny by the Department of the Environment.

Food waste

The UK produces close to 500 million tonnes of waste each year, the majority of which ends up in landfill sites. Out of this figure, municipal and commercial waste accounts for well over 100m tonnes and the remainder is made up of agricultural and controlled wastes. Astonishingly, only 9% of municipal waste is actually recycled.

Diverting food waste from landfill

In an attempt to significantly reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, the EU has issued a set of directives which will see biodegradable waste being recycled by processes such as Anaerobic Digestion. By 2013, the UK aims to have reduced waste going to landfill by up to 8 million tonnes.

Difficulties with landfill

As biodegradable waste breaks down in landfill sites, it naturally produces methane and carbon dioxide, which can continue being released into the atmosphere for anything up to several hundred years after a site has been closed. Both of these gases play a major role in global warming, climate change and damage to the ozone layer. Additionally, landfill sites bring the risk of water and noise pollution and of course the attraction of vermin.

The Proximity principle

The Proximity Principle proposes that waste should be recycled/treated/disposed of as close to its place of origin as possible. This makes perfect sense when you consider that transportation accounts for 22% of the UK’s carbon emissions, creating a further negative impact on the environment.

Disposing of liquid and ABP waste

There are growing concerns regarding food safety implications, specifically, the possible transfer of pathogens from organic waste into the food chain. Organic waste includes sewage sludge, abattoir waste and animal manure. Animal By-product Waste (ABP) can only be accepted and treated by processing plants who have received prior approval from DEFRA via the State Veterinary Service.