« BackNews: Yorkshire Town Aims For Circular Economy

Yorkshire Town Aims For Circular Economy

‘Food capital’ Malton in Yorkshire has taken its first steps towards becoming the county’s first minimal waste circular economy market town.

According to the Yorkshire Post, a pilot project, Circular Malton & Norton, that brings together businesses, authorities and the public, has been funded by the Rural Community Energy Fund to enable a feasibility study into establishing a community anaerobic digester.

The circular economy aims to minimise waste to help protect the environment, and an anaerobic digester would use local food and agricultural waste to generate heat and energy for the towns of Malton and Norton.

Sue Jefferson, a member of the Circular team, said: “We recognise that there are a number of ways to avoid food waste ending up in landfill, including great initiatives like the Ryedale Free Fridge and the Too Good To Go schemes; however when the waste is not suitable for human consumption, anaerobic digestion is a great solution.”

Lucy Hopwood, director of bioeconomy consultants NNFCC, who are carrying out the study, said they would be looking at the type and quantity of waste generated locally, what currently happens to that waste and how suitable or appropriate it is to use in a community anaerobic digester and potential locations and scale of the facility.

There will be many options to explore, including new business models, job creation, the benefits to the community, potential sites, and the reduction in carbon emissions for the towns.

Residents and businesses in Malton and Norton will be invited to share their opinions in forums and through a survey during the progress of the project and as findings are suggested next steps are released after the completion of the feasibility project.

If you need pressure relief valves, as used in anaerobic digestion, then contact our team today.