Opportunities To Scale AD Of Food Waste In Washington State.

RENEWABLE natural gas; SOLID waste management; NATURAL gas pipelines; FOOD waste; WASTE minimization; COMPOSTING

Researchers from Washington State University conducted a project funded by the EPA to assess the potential for food waste anaerobic digestion (AD) in Washington State. The study focused on identifying barriers and benefits to collaborative AD projects that could incorporate food waste. Three distinct areas were chosen for the study: the City of Spokane, the City of Yakima and surrounding Yakima County, and the Olympic Peninsula. The study found that while there are barriers to AD implementation, such as cost and local context, there is still positive sentiment and potential for AD projects in these regions. The study suggests harnessing local community power, finding a local champion, supporting local communities in exploring organic waste management options, utilizing pre-existing infrastructure, and assessing if AD is the correct solution for a community's needs. The hope is that these insights can improve future implementation of AD and other organic waste management strategies in Washington and beyond. [Extracted from the article]