Guidance

Quality protocol: anaerobic digestate

End of waste criteria for the production and use of quality outputs from anaerobic digestion of source-segregated biodegradable waste.

Documents

Anaerobic digestate: End of waste criteria for the production and use of quality outputs from anaerobic digestion of source-segregated biodegradable waste

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Details

This quality protocol sets out criteria for the production of quality digestate from anaerobic digestion of source-segregated biodegradable waste (biowaste).

Quality digestate from anaerobic digestion includes the whole digestate, in addition to any subsequently separated fibre or liquor fractions.

If these criteria are met, quality outputs from anaerobic digestion will normally be regarded as having been fully recovered and to have ceased to be waste.

A quality protocol identifies the point at which waste, having been fully recovered, may be regarded as a non-waste product that can be used in specified markets, without the need for waste management controls. Quality protocols have been produced for a range of materials.

Published 17 March 2014