Newcastle City Council is marking the one-year anniversary of its pioneering food waste trial, which has successfully diverted hundreds of tonnes of food waste from landfill and transformed it into clean energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser.
Over the past 12 months, the trial has:
- Recycled 400 tonnes of food waste – enough to:
- Power 375 homes for a year, or
- Heat 88 homes for a year
- Produced 264 tonnes of fertiliser to support sustainable agriculture
The food waste collected from households is sent to a biogas facility in Wardley, Gateshead, where it undergoes anaerobic digestion. This process breaks down organic material to produce biogas, which is used in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) engines to generate renewable electricity and heat. Alternatively, the biogas can be upgraded and injected into the National Grid as renewable gas.
The trial currently includes 5,200 households across six wards; Kingston Park South, Newbiggin Hall, Blakelaw, West Fenham, Benwell and Scotswood, and Wingrove
Councillor Alex Hay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said:
"This initiative is a fantastic example of how Newcastle is leading the way in sustainability. Not only are we reducing waste and emissions, but we’re also creating valuable resources that benefit our communities and the environment."
The trial anticipates the requirements of the Environment Act 2021, which mandates all councils in England to implement separate food waste collections in 2026.
Newcastle City Council continues to explore ways to expand the scheme and engage more residents in the journey toward a greener, more circular economy.