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Food waste recycling operator BioteCH4 has been granted planning permission to build a second anaerobic digestion plant in Lincolnshire, UK.

BioteCH4’s new plant will increase its capacity to turn unavoidable food waste into green energy and biofertiliser. The anaerobic digestion operator was granted approval by Lincolnshire County Council’s Planning and Regulation Committee on Monday 3 June.

The new 6MW plant will include a waste reception building, three digesters, a gas bag and a new access road. Once operational, it will produce enough green energy to power over 19,000 homes.

During the process, food waste enters a building and is then processed into a liquid porridge, before being pumped into the anaerobic digestion plant. Biogas will be captured and used as a fuel in Combined Heat and Power units to produce renewable electricity and heat, or cleaned and sent directly to the gas grid.

The waste is pasteurised to ensure that any pathogens are destroyed. The biofertiliser is stored in large lagoons, ready to be applied on farmland when required.

There are currently more than 100 anaerobic digestion plants in the UK. Last year, BioteCH4 recycled over 600,000 tonnes of food waste across its six sites, transforming it into 300MWh of energy.

Lee Dobinson, chief commercial officer at BioteCH4, said: “We’re pleased to receive planning permission for a new anaerobic digestion plant at our Hemswell Biogas site. The new facility will increase the group’s processing capacity by 200,000 tonnes annually. This will allow us to meet growing demands for food waste recycling, increase green energy outputs, and further strengthen our voice as market leaders.”