InSinkErator —a business unit of St. Louis-based Emerson Electric Co. and the world’s largest manufacturer of food waste disposers, has partnered with Whole Foods Market’s Andover, MA location, to implement the new Grind2Energy organics system that converts food waste into renewable energy. The local Whole Foods Market store installed the system to divert their food waste and create both renewable energy and beneficial fertilizer, with the install also helping the store to comply with an upcoming Massachusetts ban on commercial food waste disposal in landfills. This landmark ruling in Massachusetts will require any entity that disposes of more than one ton of organic waste per week to deliver it to either an anaerobic digestion plant for conversion to clean energy, a composting facility, or an animal feed operation beginning October 1, 2014.
 
 “At Whole Foods Market in Andover we want to continue to lead the way in terms of responsible food waste disposal and recycling.  Also, with the statewide ban coming into effect, the Grind2Energy system allows us to be on the forefront of environmental sustainability practices in Massachusetts,” said Karen Franczyk, green mission coordinator, Whole Foods Market North Atlantic region.
 
In the U.S., the average commercial kitchen produces more than 4,000 pounds of food waste each week. Traditionally, that waste is sent to a landfill where the food scraps emit methane — a potent greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and is a major contributor to global warming. As an alternative to landfills, the Grind2Energy organics recycling system converts food waste into a liquid slurry that is stored in an on-site storage tank.
 
Requiring no supervision, the “slurry” is then vacuumed from the tank and transported to a nearby anaerobic digestion (AD) facility. The methane released from the food waste is captured and transformed into renewable energy such as electricity, natural gas or even compressed natural gas, which can be used as vehicle fuel. This efficient, turnkey solution also results in improved sanitation and odors, as well as prevention, or elimination of pests.
 
For the Whole Foods Market in Andover, Grind2Energy will handle food scraps that will be ground and stored in a 3,000 gallon storage tank. The waste will then be collected and digested by Casella Organics, the operator of the AGreen Energy Jordan Farm, located in Rutland, MA, and Barstow’s Longview Farm of Hadley, MA. Both farms utilize anaerobic digestion to capture methane from cow manure and the food waste provided to them from sources like Whole Foods Market to convert the methane into both electricity provided to the grid, and natural gas. Closing the loop, the natural gas produced is used to heat the farm, and the fertilizer used locally.
 
“The Grind2Energy system provides businesses with an effective solution for diverting organic waste from landfills,” said Matt Whitener, vice president and general manager – Commercial, InSinkErator. “Through our partnership with Whole Foods Market in Andover, we are able to demonstrate how the Grind2Energy system can help a food retailer with such a distinguished name in the sustainability movement meet its goals, help the environment and comply with state regulations.”