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MEMBER PRESS RELEASE: Bore Hill Farm Biodigester celebrates its 7th birthday

Bore Hill Farm Biodigester, Warminster: May 2019 will see Malaby Biogas celebrating the 7th anniversary of operations. The pioneering facility has been a centre of innovation and growth; leading the way in the development of a new and environmentally friendly industry which efficiently converts food and organic food production wastes into renewable energy and low carbon fertiliser for farms. Last year it became the first English anaerobic digestion (AD) plant to be approved under the new AD Certification Scheme (ADCS) which recognises excellent operational, environmental, and health and safety performance. Malaby Biogas prides itself on being flexible and responsive to the changing economic and environmental landscape by providing end of waste treatment services across the food production chain. As a result Director Thomas Minter was recognised by the industry’s trade association (ADBA) as AD Hero of the Year at their prestigious annual awards in July last year.

Since May 2012 the Biodigester has converted over 145,000 tonnes of food waste into 137,000 tonnes of low carbon, organic fertiliser and 45,000 MW of renewable electricity. It injects the electricity into the local town grid and provides enough power for around 2,500 houses – roughly 25% of Warminster, helping make the town extremely green.    

Thomas Minter says:

The work our team has done to improve the carbon foot print of Warminster is huge and I am incredibly proud of their efforts to tackle climate change. We put into action the expression ‘Think Globally Act Locally’. The methane gas we capture and convert into green electricity is 22 times more damaging than carbon dioxide. Using it to help power the town by avoiding landfill methane emissions is something each team member should be very proud of. And it all comes from waste!

Malaby’s roots are in the local community and it has provided employment and learning opportunities to a large number of local organisations, schools, businesses and individuals. With its integrated visitors centre and open-door policy, it hosts international groups on fact finding missions and helps school and university students with their studies covering biology, chemistry, engineering and environmental and social sciences.  It treats wastes from far and wide from Warminster businesses to as far as the Channel Islands. Working with waste producers, collectors and hauliers, the Bore Hill Farm Biodigester helps minimise the need for environmentally damaging waste processes such as land filling or incineration. Government plans for weekly national household food waste collections will go a long way to reducing the need for waste disposal and will increase the opportunities for recycling.  

Thomas Minter says:

The circular benefits that come from converting organic wastes into low carbon fertiliser for farmers and green energy for homes and businesses are massive. Creating local green power 24 hours a day, every day of the year, offsets polluting electricity generated from fossil fuels and nuclear. When food waste policies roll out to households, we will be here to support the council in dealing with it as locally as possible. Our process is a win for everyone. However, we are not resting on our laurels but are looking to the future. New initiatives, such as building direct links with the people that use our power and improving the efficiency of the processes, will build a new bio-based economy across the country. We have global expertise, but doing this locally is very important as we look down the road to a difficult and uncertain world for our children.  

ADBA Chief Executive Charlotte Morton said:

Malaby Biogas has been a pioneer in both using innovative AD technology to recycle food waste into valuable green energy and natural fertiliser, and in reaching out to the local community to raise understanding of the many benefits of AD.

 

We were delighted to see Bore Hill Farm become the first English AD plant to be certified under the ADCS last year and we look forward to continuing to work with Thomas and the team to push the boundaries of AD and ensure this exciting industry meets its full potential.

 

ENDS

Notes for editors

Photo of Bore Hill Farm Biodigester attached for use.

Malaby Biogas website: www.malabybiogas.com

Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA) website: www.adbioresources.org

 

Contact details

Thomas Minter, Director, Malaby Biogas

T: 01985 216976   E: thomasminter@malabybiogas.com

Website: www.malabybiogas.com

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