The following is
an explanation of Anaerobic digestion, although the process is not
currently used in Hampshire.
The local council refuse
collection vehicles pick up segregated organic waste from people's homes. This includes
garden vegetables and vegetable peelings.
The organic waste is delivered to
a special processing plant called an Anaerobic Digestor. Anaerobic means "in the
absence of oxygen".
The waste is placed into a large
enclosed metal chamber. It is sealed, and in the absence of oxygen the waste rapidly
decomposes through the action of bacteria.
The Anaerobic Digestion (AD)
process produces three useful products. Firstly, biogas which can be used as a fuel to
produce electricity; secondly, a liquid which can be used as agricultural fertiliser; and
thirdly, a solid which can be used as a soil conditioner.
