Some municipalities are co-digesting food waste and sludge at wastewater treatment plants, finding that adding food to the mix significantly increases biogas production without affecting quality. Still, once food is added to these plants’ digesters, the biogas receives less RINs credit (Renewable identification numbers) under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program—driving its value down by 50 to upward of 70 percent. This is preventing projects from moving forward and has struck a chord with industry proponents who argue that de-valuing the product once food waste is mixed with biosolids makes no sense from either an environmental or economic perspective. More >>
