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8 February 2010

North East Derbyshire MP highlights the need for farmers and councils to work together on waste

 

Natascha Engel MP last week pressed the farming Minister Dan Norris to work with farmers and local councils to address the growing problem of waste disposal.

She was raising this issue following a meeting with local farmers in North East Derbyshire where they discussed the potential of using on-farm composting and anaerobic digestion. Farmers currently use anaerobic digestion to dispose of pig slurry. This then produces a biogas that can be used to generate electricity and heat.

Natascha is working with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) to encourage local authorities to consider using on-farm composting and anaerobic digestion as part of their local waste and recycling strategies.

Currently, much of our biodegradable waste such as food, garden, card and paper is sent to landfill where it produces hazardous methane into the atmosphere. If this biodegradable waste was sent to local farms to be composted in an anaerobic digestion plant, this would be much more environmentally safe and produce energy that could be used by the local community.

Natascha Engel MP said:

“At the moment there seems to be a lack of joined-up thinking when it comes to dealing with waste. Rather than looking to existing forms of waste disposal, like on-farm anaerobic digestion, we are building incinerators and composting plants close to residential areas. Perhaps, if councils were made aware of the potential benefits of working with their local farmers, this would reduce the need for landfill and incineration.”

Natascha Engel MP said: “The local waste management strategy should be truly local. By working with farmers and using the waste disposal plants already available on their land, we will also be creating energy that can be used by local people. At the moment it feels like an opportunity is being lost.”

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