Reducing food processing waste treatment costs and the environmental impact
The food industry faces ongoing pressure to cut costs and to reduce its carbon environmental footprint. Many food companies are being hit by increased trade effluent charges and carbon taxation. Clearfleau will reduce discharge costs for liquid effluents including:
- Waste water arising from food processing
- Wash down residues and effluents
- Blancher liquors or process condensates
- Unused ingredients and co-products
- Other bio-waste and reject products
Liquid anaerobic digestion is an ideal process for treatment of such materials, which include waste plant organic material, sugars, oils or fats. Our high rate digestion process converts the volatile solids into biogas and it can be integrated into existing treatment systems. It is also fully bio-secure as additional materials to supplement the biogas potential are not required.
Information on flows and loads is used to evaluate biogas and payback potential. On-site trials can also be undertaken to assess effectiveness with our mobile unit.
Potential financial benefits include:
- Reduced costs for sewer discharge and off site waste disposal
- Revenue from FITs and the RHI for on site energy generation
- Reduced costs for purchase of electricity and other fossil fuels
- For some sites, tax savings from reducing the carbon footprint
In addition to cutting effluent disposal costs, the food sector is being encouraged to use less water and recycle more. The reduction in COD load by over 95% in the digestion process creates the opportunity for recycling grey water to replace existing supplies, for boiler feed water and other non sensitive uses.
Clearfleau is focused on cost effective generation of biogas from liquid feedstocks that can be a major cost burden to many food processors. On-site anaerobic treatment not only reduces costs but also generates revenue. With suitable feedstocks, net revenue from high rate anaerobic digestion (excluding the treatment costs) can be significant.
UK Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regulations (IPPC) require companies to make continual improvements in environmental practices. ISO 14001 requires periodic environmental audits. Investment in renewable energy and water recycling is eligible for enhanced capital allowances (ECAs). The industry also needs to reduce energy consumption and its carbon footprint, to reduce its CRC tax commitments.
