Update: ADBA and REA survey on treating surplus organic waste generated by Covid-19 lockdown

Following ADBA's work with regulators, government, industry and each nations National Farmers Union we have compiled data from nearly 60 plants regarding spare capacity, which has been mapped out and sent to industry and regulators alongside ADBA and REA contact details.

The data map and ADBA and REA contact details have now been shared with the relevant regulators and farmers so that they can be networked with AD plants that have spare capacity.

The survey is still open for plants to provide information and be added to the contact list for surplus production and wastes.

'We all share the common aim that waste production in the food and drink sector should be avoided or minimised where possible and that the waste hierarchy should be adopted where waste production is unavoidable. This is set out in detail in Defra’s statutory guidance Food and drink waste hierarchy: deal with surplus and waste – GOV.UK

This guidance is equally relevant during the current Covid-19 situation.

As indicated in Defra’s guidance, the nature of food and drink wastes often make them very suitable candidates for Anaerobic Digestion.

We are keen to promote AD over other waste management routes which are lower down the waste hierarchy eg disposal to sewer. It is possible that due to Covid-19 your members may be generating wastes that would not normally be produced and as a result may not have established routes to manage them in accordance with the waste hierarchy.

Advice on AD options may be obtained from relevant trade bodies such as the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ABDA) and the Renewables Energy Association (REA).

[Contact details of ADBA and REA].

It does, of course, remain the responsibility of the waste producer to ensure their waste management activities complies with the relevant legislation.'

For more information please contact Sam Hinton.