Top: Photos courtesy of Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority

Two surveys focusing on the anaerobic digestion sector have been launched, one in the U.S. and the other in the United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU). The first is collecting data on anaerobic digestion of food waste; the second is looking at digestate.

• U.S. EPA Food Waste AD: The U.S. EPA has launched its fourth annual survey of anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities in the U.S. that accept food waste to learn about their operations, biogas markets and other details. The information collected will assist the industry with tracking the development of AD over the years, as well as increase EPA’s ability to provide technical assistance for successful projects. The three reports issued to date can be viewed on EPA’s AD website, with summaries available in BioCycle.

The 2021 survey was just launched by EPA’s Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. There are three separate questionnaires for each of the different facility types: stand-alone, farm codigestion, and water resource recovery facility (WRRF) codigestion. All can be accessed at the same web link. Jon Schroeder at EPA is leading the survey initiative and estimates that the time needed to respond is 20 to 25 minutes.

• UK-EU Digestate Valorization: The survey in the UK and EU is gathering data on digestate valorization. Funded by the Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd (REAL) Research Hub, the project is assessing the landscape for digestate-derived products and alternative uses, considering commercially ready and near-to-market technologies, to optimize digestate value. REAL administers the REAL Research Hub funded by operators of the UK compost and biofertiliser certification schemes (CCS and BCS).

The project delivery team is currently engaging with AD site operators and other stakeholders to best understand current digestate markets, drivers and constraints to alternative digestate uses and product development. Digester facility operators in the UK and EU are invited to complete a short online survey that explores these aspects. A German language version of the survey is also available. Operators taking part in the 10-minute survey will receive a short summary upon project completion of digestate upgrading solutions, ranging from experimental approaches to commercially available technologies. To learn more, contact Thomas Aspray at Solid Sense, Ltd.