Innovative Eco-friendly Food Waste Recycling Launc

27th March 2012

Waste management specialists, Alpha Logic, and Langage Farm’s anaerobic digestion plant have formed an exclusive partnership which will see local food waste turned into a power source and organic fertiliser.

Introducing the first service of its kind into the region, Alpha Logic will provide a daily, mobile food waste collection service to businesses in Plymouth and the surrounding areas.
Transporting the waste to Langage’s £3.4m anaerobic digestion facility, the food waste will be macerated to allow the bacteria organisms to ‘eat’ their way through the waste. Methane gas, a bi-product of the process, is created which powers an engine and, subsequently, an electrical generator.

Alongside providing enough power to support the factory at Langage Farm, the excess power is diverted back to the National Grid. The only output, when dried, is an effective fertiliser which can be used to improve the quality of the pasture at the farm.
Neil Stallard, Director at Alpha Logic, explained the launch of the new Food:Logic scheme: “It is well-documented in the press that landfill sites are running out of capacity and are not a long term sustainable waste solution . With changes in legislation requiring businesses to divert their food waste away from landfill by 2020, alongside increasing landfill charges and taxes, it is important for firms to find alternative options for their food waste before it’s too late. The decomposition rate between the two disposal routes are incomparable. Food waste sent to landfill takes between 40 and 100 years to decompose, in comparison to just 69 days through anaerobic digestion.”

“We’re delighted to have secured an exclusive arrangement with Langage Farm to allow us to offer this environmentally-friendly food waste solution to local businesses that are committed to sustainability and making a greener Plymouth. Clearly, alongside the environmental and financial benefits of participating in the scheme, it will further allow businesses to demonstrate their true commitment to environmental issues.”

“To kick-start the Food:Logic campaign, the first 150 businesses who pledge their commitment to the scheme will gain a certificate of participation and will receive marketing collateral for them to promote their involvement. This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to take a lead in this important environmental issue.”

The Food:Logic scheme is open to all local businesses that generate food waste, regardless of the volume. Smaller companies who don’t create a large output of food waste can still participate in the scheme by sharing waste collections with neighbouring businesses.
Further details about the Food:Logic scheme and how to request a free consultation can be found on the Alpha:Logic website at www.alpha-logic.com

The Food:Logic Scheme
Businesses situated in Plymouth and the surrounding areas are eligible to take part in the Food:Logic scheme. Open to all companies, regardless of size or food waste volume, businesses ranging from bars and restaurants to tourist attractions and nursing homes are eligible to take part.
The first of its kind in the region, the scheme consist of a daily, mobile food waste collection service. Operated and managed by Alpha:Logic, the food waste vehicle will visit participating businesses to collect their food waste on site. It will then be transported to Langage Farm’s anaerobic digester (AD) facility where it will be processed into an energy source and organic fertiliser.
Alongside the energy created, the resultant waste output fertiliser will be used on Langage Farm to improve the quality of the pasture and increase the milk yield of its herd.
A continual sustainable loop is created for Langage Farm whereby the waste generated by the production and consumption of its products can be processed in its anaerobic digestion facility to create fertiliser which is then used to improve the pasture’s quality for its herd.
Businesses who sign-up to the waste scheme will be provided with a food waste bin. They then collect their waste in bags and place them in the food waste bin ready for their daily collection.
Alongside the environmental benefits of the scheme, they will also reduce the volume of general waste which they send to landfill. As a result, their landfill costs will decrease as food waste is diverted to the AD plant.

Food:Logic 150 Businesses
As part of the launch of the new Food:Logic scheme, the first 150 businesses to sign-up will be recognised and rewarded for their support. The 150 businesses will receive a certificate of participation, a window sticker for them to promote their participation and support to the public, and, also, the right to use a stamp of recognition to mark their early support of the scheme.
As with most waste recycling and disposal solutions, capacity is ultimately limited. Per annum, the AD plant can process up to 20,000 tonnes of food waste. As the 2020 deadline for the diversion of food waste from landfill approaches, demand for such a solution will soar. As a result, businesses are encouraged to sign-up to the scheme as soon as possible to guarantee availability. Access to the scheme is strictly on a first come, first served basis.

Alpha:Logic
Previously trading as Alpha Utilities, the firm re-branded to Alpha:Logic in 2011. Based in central Plymouth, the company specialises in providing waste management solutions to companies across the UK.
With a commitment to protecting the environment, the firm is continually researching more environmentally-friendly waste solutions to serve the growing number of businesses who are committed to sustainability issues.
A Carbon Neutral company, Alpha:Logic are organisers of the annual Plymouth Eco Business Fayre which brings companies together to demonstrate their environmental policies and capabilities, develop sustainable supply chains and share best-practice.
Further information about Alpha:Logic can be found at www.alpha-logic.com

Langage Farm AD Plant
Officially opened at Langage Farm on 1st July 2011, the £3.4m AD plant can process some 20,000 tonnes of food waste per annum,
Faced with the reducing milk yield from its herd - as a result of the declining quality of the pasture - and increasing energy costs, Langage sought a solution that would solve both problems.
The resultant solution was the development of the AD plant which would use food waste generated by Langage Farm and the surrounding areas to produce a renewable heat source and a high-quality, natural fertiliser to improve the quality of its pasture and, ultimately, improve its milk yield. Furthermore, through reducing its reliance on non-organic fertilisers, it has reduced its carbon footprint by some 300,000kgs.
Organic matter which is input into the facility is macerated to allow for better digestion of the bacteria. As organisms eat their way through the waste, methane gas is created as a by-product. This gas is siphoned off and used to power an engine, which in turn powers an electrical generator.
The waste heat from the generator is extracted and used at the factory. The excess power is then sent to the National Grid. The only waste product from the process is organic digested material which, when dried, is an effective fertiliser.
Further information about the Langage Farm AD plant can be found at: http://www.langagefarm.com/blog/
 

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