Member Article

County Durham food waste specialists scoop 200 schools contract

A County Durham food waste firm has secured a partnership contract to process leftover food from more than 200 Durham schools for the production of biogas.

John Warren ABP, which collects food waste for its subsidiary Emerald Biogas, will worth with food catering specialists Taylor Shaw to collect unwanted food from over 20,000 children and turn it into green energy.

The food waste will be taken to an anaerobic digestion plant in Newton Aycliffe where it is turned into heat and energy, and organic fertiliser for local farmers.

Antony Warren, Director at John Warren ABP, said: “We are delighted to be workingwith Taylor Shaw, a responsible and forward-thinking company.

“Although everything is done to help reduce the amount of food waste produced in schools, inevitably there will be some leftover food from pupils, teachers and in the school kitchen, which cannot be used in any other way and needs to be disposed of.

“However, as food waste to landfill is a growing concern, the new partnership with Taylor Shaw will mean that instead of the waste being landfilled or incinerated, it can be used in a much more environmentally-friendly way.

“Through this innovative solution, by collaborating with Taylor Shaw we can jointly help to create renewable heat, electricity and a bio-fertiliser, all of which is beneficial to the local community and helps towards creating a sustainable circular economy.

“We are already seeing the impact of the new partnership at the Emerald Biogas AD facility, so it is a great boost for our new business too.”

Lynda Walker, general manager for Taylor Shaw, said: “Our partnership and experience with John Warren’s has been both extremely positive and invaluable in helping us reduce our carbon footprint, making our contract in County Durham much more sustainable.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .