The future of energy derived from waste recycling

There are two main methods for treating waste: incineration, which is widespread, and methanization, which is more marginal but is growing in importance because of its environmental advantages. Methanization reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill or incinerated and is an inexhaustible source of renewable energy.

Increased recovery levels for household waste...

Methanization has been developed since the 1980s and is currently rapidly expanding in France and throughout Europe. It involves storing organic waste in a sealed tank or digester where it is broken down by bacteria in an oxygen-free environment. This fermentation can generate up to 500 m³ of gas per ton of waste. The biogas produced is 60% methane.

In 2011, the volume of household waste treated by methanization is set to reach 7 million tons in Europe.

This technology was first developed in the 1980s to treat solid organic household waste.
In 2005, over 3.5 million tons of waste were treated by methanization in Europe. By 2011, the volume treated is set to reach 7 million tons¹ and in the years to come, this recovery method is expected to be extended to all organic matter, such as sewage sludge, agricultural waste or industrial effluents (paper, agri-food and other sectors).

... and agricultural waste

Biogas is a resource for rural areas and farms. Denmark has a substantial number of on-farm digesters, which produce energy locally from slurry. Germany has 4000 such plants. France has just launched a development plan which is expected to generate 50-100 projects per year².

In China, India and Nepal, where government grants are available, millions of digesters are already in operation.
Industrialized countries are sure to follow this example in the near future.

Biogas can be used as a fuel.

True. Several European countries have successfully completed biogas-fuel production projects for public transport. Biogas comes from biomass and can be produced in water or waste treatment plants, as in Stockholm, Sweden or Lille, France. In Graz, Austria, they even recover used cooking oil!³

[1] Official Journal of the European Union (20/03/09)
[2] French Ministry of the environment, energy, sustainable development and the sea
[3] Biofuel Cities European Partnership