Environmental, social and economic benefits

The environmental impacts of the anaerobic digestion (AD) process are all positive:

• Development of a benign and safe waste management system 
• Pollution and odour control of organic putrescible wastes 
• Reduction in the need for the use of artificial fertilisers 
• Control of pathogenic bacteria and viruses 
• Production of renewable energy 
• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
• Carbon neutral process.

The integration of biogas technology within the community as a waste management process and renewable energy producer will bring social benefits: 

• Create a cleaner environment 
• Create local employment 
• Provide diversification for rural businesses such as farms 
• Achieves the “Proximity Principle” i.e. treating wastes close to their source 
• Is sustainable.
  

AD can also generate economic benefits by:

• Charging a gate fee for the treatment of wastes 
• Production and sale of biogas as both electricity and heat 
• Production and sale of fibre and liquid fertilisers 
• Improve the efficiency of farming practices by offsetting fertilizer and energy bills.