A large grocery store chain in the U.K. called Sainsbury’s is taking food waste by the horns according to an article I found recently.
They have created a complete life-cycle for their food waste. It is basically a genius tiered plan: Food that is still edible, but not sellable, is donated to food banks. Food that is not really fit for human consumption is donated to local zoos and/or animal feed production companies.
The stuff that is beyond edible is trucked off {by the same trucks that deliver the food, so no extra trips} to a waste management company. The waste management company uses a zero-oxygen anaerobic digester to break down the food into methane gas that is converted into usable energy–as in electricity.
The electricity will then be fed back through a .9 mile cable to power the store. Turns out, it will be enough energy to feed the entire store’s energy needs {and then some}.
The new program hasn’t started yet, but the wheels are in motion. Seriously, how cool is that? Someone is really using their melon…pun intended!
I just love a happy ending when it comes to food waste.
~Mavis
tc says
It is wonderful to see a store in my home country adopting such a great program. I wish a lot more stores here did that though our local Vons market sells their waste to local pig farmers and they recycle all their cardboard and they produce their own compost which they sell in the stores.
Mavis says
Hopefully other stores catch on!
Lisa says
Excellent idea…I love it!!!
Mavis says
Me too. Some people are just so smart!
Carol says
Win, win, win!!!! Thanks, Mavis that is good news!
Mavis says
Isn’t it awesome!
ChrisM says
They must still be wasting a huge amount of food if they can power their stores with it!