The Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad featured an article about our Waste Transformer being installed this year at IKEA Haarlem, called World Premiere for Haarlem: IKEA makes energy from Swedish meatballs.
We have translated the Dutch article here on our website. For our Dutch readers, find the link to the article here.
Haarlem has a world premiere in its hands. The IKEA store in the Waarderpolder will be the first store in the world to run a trial with a biogas plant to process non preventable food waste from the restaurant into green energy, on-site.
We asked a few questions to Sabine Kaars Sijpesteijn, spokeswoman at IKEA Netherlands, about the project.
Climate positive
Sabine, first tells us about the company’s objectives: ,, At IKEA, we are constantly looking for innovative and sustainable solutions to develop and improve our business operations to ultimately be fully circular and climate positive by 2030. Among other things, we investigate how we can minimize waste within our shop operation and convert inevitable waste into raw materials through prevention, reduction, reuse and recycling. Haarlem has been selected as our first test store to convert our food waste into clean energy. ”
World premiere
Sabine: ,, The test is scheduled for March 2021. The developments with regard to Corona may still have an effect on the specific start date. In Haarlem, we are conducting a first test worldwide to investigate how we can convert non-preventable food waste into biogas that is regenerated for our store operation. Based on this first test, it is decided what the next steps of the project are and if and when we will prepare for a possible larger rollout. For example by testing a biogas solution in other stores and countries. Any next steps for the project have not yet been determined. ”
Operation
The fact that Haarlem is the first store to undergo this test is of course great, but how does such an anaerobic digester actually work? Sabine:,, Food waste contains a lot of stored energy. On the same day when the waste is produced, the organic waste is collected from the kitchen and placed inside the Waste Transformer next to the store. One of the advantages is that there is no need to transport the food waste off-site. The shredded food waste is broken down by bacteria in a closed, airtight system called anaerobic digestion (that is, without oxygen). In that process biogas is formed, which is converted into electricity and heat that is returned to the store.
Grow plants
Food waste also contains important nutrients that are very suitable for usage as an organic liquid fertilizer for growing plants. This is also produced in the Waste Transformer. This circular project takes place on the IKEA Haarlem site. ”
So if you don’t finish your meatballs next time at IKEA Haarlem, you no longer need to feel guilty about food waste, because they are used to generate energy and organic fertilizer!
For enquiries or contact:
marketing@thewastetransformers.com
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