Co-Digestion and Food Waste

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a biochemical degradation process that converts complex organic materials into biogas in the absence of oxygen. Biogas is composed of methane, carbon dioxide and trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide. Animal wastes, especially dairy manure, have proven to be ideal feedstocks for anaerobic digesters. Food wastes, mostly generated from food processing, food service, and retail establishments, also can be excellent feedstocks for AD. Food wastes typically have high ratios of volatile solids/total solids (VS/TS), which indicate high energy content.

Webinar recordings

How small can co-digestion economically go?
Economic feasibility case study of co-digestion of manure and food waste

Co-Digestion Resources

Economic and nutrient management conditions for adopting co-digestion of dairy manure and food waste - (2025)
How small can co-digestion economically go? - (2025)
Economic Feasibility Case Study of Co-Digestion of Manure and Food Waste on a Northern New York Dairy - (2023)
Usage of imported food processing waste and food wastes on dairy CAFO farms - (2023)
How Food Waste Contributes to Greenhouse Gases - (2021)
Food Scraps Law Impact on Farms and Processors - (2021)
Lifecycle and Economic Assessment for NYS Dairy Co-digestion - (2015)
Experimental and Predicted Methane Yields from the Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Animal Manure with Complex Organic Substrates - (2008)
Innovations in Manure Management: Using food wastes in farm-based anaerobic digesters - (2005)