Peterborough City Council aims to reduce climate change damage and boost its reputation as a top recycler by introducing a process that converts household food waste into electricity and a compost-like soil improver.

When the system is introduced, possibly next year, kitchen food waste will be collected from homes and businesses and delivered to air-tight tanks at a processing plant in Fengate. Using an 'anaerobic digestion' process, special microbes will feed on the food and produce a 'biogas' that can be used to generate electricity.

After the 'digestion' part of the process is complete, the food residue makes a nitrogen-rich, compost-like soil improver for use on farm land.

The proposal to go ahead with the anaerobic digestion process has been announced by the city council's cabinet member for the environment, Councillor Wayne Fitzgerald, and cabinet member for efficiency and business improvement Councillor Sheila Scott. It follows the recommendation of a cross-party working group of councillors and supports the city council's commitment to increase recycling and composting of household and garden materials to over 65% by 2020.

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"Peterborough currently has a recycling rate of around 50% and has been the top recycler among England's unitary councils for the past two years," said Councillor Fitzgerald.

"Food waste is now the biggest single item in household black bins, so introducing an anaerobic digestion treatment process means we can boost recycling levels by up to 10%, while also generating valuable electricity and soil improver for use on farm land.

"This will support Peterborough's commitment to the Communities Cleaner and Greener agenda and build a reputation as the UK's Environment Capital. It will also help us avoid landfill reduction penalties calculated to total £1.5 million over three years if we carry on dumping bio-degradable food waste in landfill sites."

The city council aims to prepare a shortlist of contractors that can design, build and operate the council's anaerobic digestion facility, which will be built on council owned land at Fengate in Peterborough's Eastern Industry area.

(CD/KMcA)