Converting Food Waste into Energy and the Importance of Bioenergy Plants

28 Ağustos 2025

Imagine that the food waste generated daily from your table, markets, or restaurants doesn’t have to be just garbage. In fact, these wastes can be converted into a renewable energy source with the right technologies—without harming the environment, even benefiting nature.

At the center of this transformation are bioenergy plants. So, how does this process work? How is energy obtained from food waste? And where does Turkey stand in this field? We’ve gathered all the answers for you in this article.

Why Are Food Wastes So Important?

Approximately 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted worldwide each year. This figure represents not only a loss of resources but also causes significant environmental pollution. When food waste ends up in landfills, it decomposes and releases harmful gases like methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

That’s why it’s critical not just to dispose of food waste but to valorize it. Converting this waste into energy is vital to both reduce environmental impact and produce sustainable energy.

How Is Energy Obtained from Food Waste?

One of the most common and effective methods to convert food waste to energy is anaerobic digestion. In this process, waste breaks down in an oxygen-free environment through microorganisms, producing biogas.

This biogas can be used to generate electricity and heat, or sometimes upgraded to biomethane and fed into the natural gas grid. Additionally, the organic residue left behind, called digestate, can be used as a natural fertilizer in agriculture. So, both energy and valuable resources for the soil are obtained.

In summary:

• Anaerobic digestion → Fermentation of food waste
• Biogas → Electricity, heat, or biomethane
• Digestate → Organic fertilizer

This entire process happens in modern bioenergy plants.

What Do Bioenergy Plants Do?

Bioenergy plants are integrated systems that collect organic waste and convert it into energy and fertilizer. These plants provide great benefits, especially for municipalities, industrial enterprises, and agricultural businesses.

In a bioenergy plant:

• Waste undergoes pre-treatment (physical separation and homogenization).
• Anaerobic digestion tanks produce biogas.
• The biogas is converted into electricity and heat through cogeneration systems.
• The remaining organic matter is used in agriculture.

Bioenergy plants ensure that waste is transformed into economic value without being released into nature. They reduce environmental pollution, lower the carbon footprint, and meet local energy needs, thus decreasing energy dependency.

Benefits of Producing Energy from Food Waste

1. Environmental Benefits

• Methane emissions decrease: Food waste in landfills produces methane, but bioenergy converts this methane into controlled energy.
• The carbon footprint drops: Using biogas instead of fossil fuels significantly reduces carbon emissions.
• Soil health improves: Using organic fertilizer (digestate) reduces the need for chemical fertilizers in agriculture.

2. Energy Production

• Approximately 100-200 m³ of biogas can be produced from 1 ton of food waste.
• This biogas corresponds to about 200-400 kWh of electricity.
• Biogas can also be used for heat production or as a substitute for natural gas.

3. Economic Gains

• Waste disposal costs decrease.
• Renewable energy incentives can be utilized.
• Electricity generated from biogas becomes a source of income.
• Organic fertilizer provides cost savings for farmers.

Where Does Biotrend Fit Into This Process?

Biotrend stands out as one of Turkey’s leading companies in bioenergy and waste management, especially active in:

• Source separation of organic waste,
• High-efficiency anaerobic digestion systems,
• Production of organic fertilizer,
• Increasing the supply of renewable energy.

Furthermore, Biotrend’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond energy production—it also leads efforts in circular economy, carbon reduction, and raising public awareness.

Why Is This Transformation More Important Now?

We are increasingly feeling the effects of the climate crisis every day. Rising energy demand, fluctuations in fossil fuel prices, and environmental pollution have become unsustainable.

At this critical point:

• Converting food waste into energy,
• Reintegrating waste into the economy,
• Producing energy from local and renewable sources,

have become essential for our future.

Food Waste: Your New Energy Source

Energy production from food waste offers an environmentally friendly and economically advantageous solution. Thanks to this transformation, organic waste we once saw as trash now:

• Produces electricity,
• Nourishes the soil,
• Protects the climate.

And all of this is possible with the right infrastructure and technologies. We at Biotrend are working to unlock Turkey’s enormous potential by converting food waste into energy, adding value to both the environment and the economy. We continue to lead this transformation for a more sustainable future.