New waste reduction plan encourages AD investment in Scotland

A new food waste plan unveiled by the Scottish government and Zero Waste Scotland may encourage farmers and landowners in Scotland to invest in anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities.

The Food Waste Reduction Plan (FWRAP) includes measures to ensure that homes with access to food recycling facilities in Scotland are using them, which presents an opportunity for the construction of more AD plants.

“It’s great to see the Scottish government set such a clear action plan, with tangible changes on the horizon,” said Chris Negus, business development manager at Privilege Finance. “It presents a great opportunity for farmers, landowners and businesses to get involved with AD, to help decarbonise the Scottish economy, while also reducing the environmental impact of food waste.”

AD is currently the most environmentally effective method to treat food waste in Scotland, according to Privilege Finance. There are currently more than 50 AD plants in Scotland using food and industrial waste to generate clean electricity.

“It’s been reported that only 55% of households say they’re recycling their food waste, despite over 80% of Scottish homes have access to recycling facilities,” Negus added. “The Scottish government have previously announced a ban on biodegradable municipal waste entering landfill from 2021, which means there is potentially an influx of feedstock for AD plants throughout Scotland arriving imminently.”

“AD can contribute significantly to the Scottish bio-economy, and I would recommend that interested parties near large towns and cities get in touch with their local councils to understand if there are opportunities to develop AD facilities to process food waste in their local areas.”