What Happens to Food Waste Collected By Councils?

Ever wondered what happens to your food waste collected by councils? Wonder no more. In this blog, we explain where your food waste goes, the process for its anaerobic digestion, and why it’s important to use any food waste bins provided for your household.

Food waste is one of the biggest culprits of rising CO2 levels, which harm our environment. With a bit of care and by following guidelines for food waste disposal, you can ensure that you’re not contributing to the problem.

Read on to find out more about where your food waste ends up!

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What is Food Waste?

Before we delve into what happens to food waste collected by councils, it’s a good idea to explain what it is and where it comes from.

Food waste is produced by households and businesses throughout the UK. From the many sectors that handle and sell food, such as hotels, restaurants, and cafes, to excess food waste at Christmas time due to overbuying, there are many reasons why food waste occurs.

Put simply, food waste is any type of product intended for consumption that ends up in the bin.

The Process for Food Waste Collected By Councils

Every council has a food waste schedule for residents in the area. Depending on where you live, this is typically once a week and is assigned to your small green bin.

Once your food waste has been collected by the council workers, it heads to an anaerobic digestion facility. Here it’s broken down, recycled almost, so that it can be converted into energy,

What is Anaerobic Digestion?

Now onto the more complex aspect of food waste collection and disposal – anaerobic digestion.

Step 1 involves removing any liners used in the food waste bins. Usually, these liners are compostable, so also eco-friendly. However, they can’t be processed along with the food.

Step 2 is where the food waste is mixed with water before being pumped into a large, sealed tank.

Step 3 involves the tanks doing their bit of work, as temperatures rise to 37 degrees. The food waste in the tanks is mixed for around 85 days before it’s broken down completely.

Step 4 takes place once the food waste has broken down, the gases produced at this stage are captured and converted into biogas. Did you know that biogas can be used to power thousands of homes?

In-vessel Composting

There are other options for recycling and processing food waste, such as in-vessel composting. This process takes food waste and transforms it into natural fertiliser to be used for agriculture and so on.

Like smaller-scale composting, in-vessel composting follows the same process. Food waste is placed into a vessel before being exposed to high temperatures of around 70 degrees. It then takes around 4-6 weeks for the food to be converted into fertiliser.

Why Food Waste in Landfills is Harmful

Perhaps you’re thinking, ‘What’s so bad about food waste in landfills?’ Allow us to explain.

When food waste is thrown into a general waste bin, it will likely reach a landfill. Here, it sits and releases methane gas, which pollutes the atmosphere. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more powerful when compared to C02.

The Methane Problem

Methane is particularly harmful as its traps heat within our planet’s atmosphere. This speeds up global warming and causes long-term problems.

In order to prevent methane from leaching into the atmosphere, we always recommend that you use your household food waste bins.

Manage Your Food Waste Responsibly

So, that is the journey your food waste goes on once it leaves your kitchen bin, turning into green energy, fertiliser, and helping cut down the methane that leaks from landfill.

All it really takes is putting your scraps in the right bin.

And if you run a business and you are dealing with bigger volumes of food waste, that is where we can help. Waste Direct can take all the hassle off your hands with reliable and affordable food waste collections that actually do something good for the planet instead of adding to the problem.

If you want simple and stress free commercial food waste disposal that you do not have to think twice about, get in touch with our team today.

FAQs

What happens to food waste after Waste Direct collects it?
We take it to licensed facilities where it is recycled through anaerobic digestion or composting, turning it into green energy or natural fertiliser.

Can my business get regular food waste collections?
Yes. Waste Direct offers scheduled collections for all types of businesses, from cafes to hotels to large commercial sites.

Do I need special bins for food waste?
We provide the right bins and liners so your food waste stays separate, clean, and compliant with UK waste regulations.

Is commercial food waste collection expensive?
Usually not. Many businesses save money because proper sorting reduces the amount of general waste going to landfill, which is often the most expensive type of waste to dispose of.

What types of food waste can be collected?
Most kinds of food waste can be collected, including fruit and veg scraps, meat, dairy, leftovers, out of date stock, bakery items, coffee grounds and more.

6. How do I get a quote for food waste collection?
You can contact Waste Direct or request a quick quote online. It only takes a minute and we will send options that fit your business.