MEMBER’S PRESS RELEASE: Hertfordshire food waste recycling plant awarded industry standard

Hertfordshire’s first food waste to renewable energy plant has achieved the industry certification PAS 110 for the biofertiliser produced as part of its recycling process.

The Bygrave anaerobic digestion (AD) plant near Baldock, owned and operated by AD market leaders Biogen, processes food waste to generate renewable energy along with a high quality, nutrient-rich biofertiliser (also known as digestate) used on local farmland.

Around 45,000 tonnes of food waste from households, supermarkets, food manufacturers and the hospitality industry is processed at the high-tech plant each year to generate 2.6 MW of green electricity – enough to power all the homes in Baldock for an entire year.

The PAS 110 accreditation given to AD operators by the Biofertiliser Certification Scheme (BCS) provides assurance to consumers, farmers, food producers and retailers that the biofertiliser produced from anaerobic digestion is safe for human, animal and plant health and is fit for spreading to farmland as a replacement for chemical fertilisers. The liquid fertiliser is rich in nitrogen, potash, phosphate and other trace elements.

Only 37 AD plants in the UK have achieved the sought after certification.  Biogen is the only operator to have 5 accredited plants, making the company the largest certified operator in the UK, with sites across the country. 

Julian O Neill, CEO, Biogen said:

I’m extremely proud that our AD plants have the PAS 110 certification.  Our unstinting focus on operations excellence and compliance across the organisation, coupled with industry leading plant design is reflected in the achievement of this most recent award. 

Contact: Anita Smith, Marketing & Communications Manager    Tel: 07760 164400      anita.smith@biogen.co.uk