What could one tonne of food waste produce?

One tonne in: a useful starting estimate

A European research benchmark is around 100 Nm³ of methane per tonne of wet food waste. [S2] With our stated conversion assumptions, that could support about 242 kWh of CHP electricity plus 403 kWh of recovered heat, or alternatively around 16 kg of hydrogen.

An Australian example

Yarra Valley Water's operating Wollert facility accepts up to 33,000 tonnes of commercial food waste annually and reports around 22,000 kWh of electricity a day. It demonstrates the pathway locally; its output does not guarantee the yield of another food mix or plant. [A4]

Count accepted food material

Weigh the material entering the process after rejected packaging and contaminants. A tonne of watery vegetable washings is different from a tonne of concentrated food-processing residues. Composition, storage and treatment affect yield.

Build supply that a plant can rely on

Record weekly tonnes, seasonal changes, packaging, fats, salt, cleaning chemicals and current disposal arrangements. Co-digestion can increase supply, but the mixture must remain suitable for the digester.

Record accepted tonnes, not just collection volume

Record source, wet weight, collection period, seasonal peaks and contaminants. Keep mixed packaged food, watery washings and separately collected cooking oil as distinct streams. A measured collection docket is a stronger starting point than an assumed bin weight.

State whether those tonnes are Available or Needed and identify existing disposal or supply agreements. Prevention and suitable redistribution come before energy recovery; only the remaining suitable, uncommitted material belongs in the proposed supply record.

An energy-rich load still needs a receiving route

Compare depackaging, storage, transport, receiving charges, contamination rejection and residual management. Include your own collection costs and commercial terms; a gross energy estimate is not profit or a guaranteed gate fee.

A receiving digester needs to assess the proposed mixture and feeding conditions. Electricity, heat, biomethane and further-converted fuels serve different customers and require their own quality, connection and delivery arrangements.

Combine collection evidence with local demand

Processors and collectors can help describe a catchment through consistent accepted loads and schedules. Nearby manure or wastewater may be relevant to co-digestion, but location alone does not prove compatibility or spare treatment capacity.

Retain quantities and evidence in your private account, assess a pathway, then choose whether to submit a supply or demand signal for review. Publication is a separate choice, not an automatic consequence of using a calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use bin numbers?

Use weighed collections where possible. Bin capacity in litres does not establish kilograms or organic content.

Should edible surplus be sent for energy?

Prioritise prevention and suitable food redistribution. Assess the remaining material for an appropriate recovery route.

Sources and references

European Commission CORDIS, VALORGAS project reporting

Yarra Valley Water, Wollert waste to energy facility

DCCEEW, recovering organic waste

Indicative operating-day examples

Indicative screening example. Actual output depends on feedstock testing, collection, plant design and operating conditions. CHP electricity and heat are one route; hydrogen and BioLNG are alternatives and cannot be added to the CHP or biomethane figures.

Turn my waste data into a project brief

Save your quantities, location and evidence gaps privately. Nothing is published without your consent and Admin review.