Co-digesting food waste with wastewater solids: a win-win-win for industries, municipalities, and the environment

In response to growing concerns about climate change and waste management, industries and municipalities are looking for innovative ways to reduce landfill waste and cut emissions. One promising approach is co-digestion—combining food waste with wastewater solids to produce renewable energy.

In a Clear Waters Magazine article, “Co-Digesting Food Waste with Wastewater Solids: A Win-Win-Win for Industries, Municipalities, and the Environment,” Carollo’s Elizabeth Charbonnet explores this process. Many wastewater treatment plants already use anaerobic digesters to break down organic matter and produce biogas. By adding food waste, these facilities can significantly increase biogas production, turning a waste challenge into a resource for clean energy.

Co-digestion provides numerous benefits: municipalities can reduce methane emissions from landfills, industries save on disposal costs, and the energy it produces can power local facilities or be sold back to the grid. The article highlights examples like the Oneida County Water Pollution Control Plant, which diverts millions of gallons of food waste from landfills, increasing its biogas production by 45%.

In New York, where mitigating climate change has become an increasing focus, this type of solution is key to meeting the state’s ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals. As Charbonnet’s research shows, co-digestion offers a practical solution for turning waste into energy, benefiting both the environment and the economy.

To dive deeper into this innovative solution, read the full article and learn more about how co-digestion is transforming wastewater treatment.