Bio-Bean
We first became aware of Arthur Kay’s ‘Bio-Bean’ project earlier this year, when we heard him talk about food waste on an expert panel at Resource Event.
What do they recycle?
Waste coffee grounds.
What do they turn it into?
Two different types of Bio-fuel.
Bio-Bean have an innovative, patented technology that allows them to turn the waste coffee grounds into biomass pellets or biodiesel. Firstly though, they have a collection network that brings in the coffee grounds from cafés, hotels and restaurants from all over London. After the Bio-fuel is made, it is used to power London’s buildings and transport, with a carbon neutral effect!
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Streetkleen
We found Streetkleen last year on Twitter and were very impressed with this quite astonishing idea, as ‘foul’ as it may seem.
What do they recycle?
Dog Waste
What do they turn it into?
Biogas
The Streetkleen Bio QuikQube Waste Conversion Unit is mobile, allowing the waste-to-energy process to be localised to a particular issue. The service is most efficient for animal shelters, kennels or boarding centres, but also for local waste management companies and parks.
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Green Bottoms
This innovative service from Green Bottoms is in a similar arena to Streetkleen, except their product is provided by babies, not animals.
What do they recycle?
Used nappies
What do they turn it in to?
Plastic pellets
Rather than tackle the waste inside the nappies, Green Bottoms look at tackling the associated plastic in the estimated 3 billion nappies that are disposed of in the UK every year. Green Bottoms provide a separate bin to collect the nappies for a fortnightly collection. Pellets are sold on for use in things like plastic decking and bicycle helmets.
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Sugarich
We listened to Paul Featherstone, Group Director of Sugarich, talk on the same panel as Arthur Kay, of Bio-Bean. The two are at opposite ends of the journey, with Paul’s Sugarich proving that there is great success to be had in the food waste industry. In 2013, Sugarich turned over £101m.
What do they recycle?
Surplus food waste from production (confectionaries)
What do they turn it into?
Farmed animal feed
We were particularly interested in what Paul had to say; so when he revealed his ideal route for food recycling, it went like this:
“Feed humans, then the food banks, then the animals, before other sustainable routes, and if all of that is done and there is still waste left over, only then should it go to landfill or incineration. Anaerobic digestion is a great method for food waste that can’t be used for animals.”
The animal feed produced through Sugarich’s methods is high energy, as it is made from a mix of confectionary. This is believed to make the animals more productive.
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Gumdrop
At first, we struggled to believe that Gumdrop was a real thing, but it is!
What do they recycle?
Used chewing gum
What do they turn it into?
New chewing gum!
Only joking, that wouldn’t be very hygienic. The chewing gum is actually used to make Gum-tec®, a new type of plastic. This plastic is then used to make chewing gum receptacles, known as gumdrops. When the gumdrop is full, the collected chewing gum can then be used to make more gumdrops! Over time, people will recognize the gumdrops and stop throwing their chewing gum on the ground, which was the main objective, and costs councils £150m a year to remove. The Gum-tec® plastic can also be used to make things like wellington boots and mobile phone cases.