The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has launched a major initiative to convert London's food waste into eco-fuel to cut landfill rates and carbon emissions.
Every year, London produces nearly three million tonnes of organic waste, mainly from food. Nearly two thirds of this waste is currently burnt in incinerators or buried in landfill, which produces potent climate change gases. £31million has been earmarked for projects that will create energy from waste. It is hoped that the Olympic Games will also offer opportunities to convert its food waste into energy.
Boris Johnson, said: London is currently throwing away valuable food waste that could be used instead to produce an eco-fuel for businesses and homes. Whilst we can all take steps to throw less food away in the first place, it is extraordinary that we are losing this resource by simply chucking it out.
BAA and Sainsbury's are working with the Mayor to investigate the possibility of developing anaerobic digestion facilities in and around London. Heathrow airport produces around 8,000 tonnes of food waste each year and BAA is keen to investigate whether it is feasible to convert this into bio-gas to generate low carbon energy or as a fuel for vehicles. Sainsbury's is keen to help deliver an anaerobic digestion plant in the London area, as part of a planned wider portfolio of waste facilities that will help the company deliver its zero waste to landfill goal.
It is no surprise that Sainsburys is backing this project. While you continue to buy excess food from them and feel no guilt when it is wasted they are on to a winner.
So Heathrow wastes 8000 tonnes of food each year, BAA owns another 5 British Airports, what does that make their total?
Consumer food waste is the visible tip of the iceburg. Up to 40% has already been lost in the production process,
Current waste to energy schemes recover only 49% of the energy available, which is a fraction of the energy required to produce it.
More energy is then required to process and transport the waste products left over by the processes.
Surely, the £31,000,000 would be better spent on avoiding food waste in the first place?
We will arrange to take up the operation and will interact with the residents for source segregation and the segregated waste will be transferred to OWC room by the housekeeping staff.
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