Evaluation of Existing Source Separated Organic Feedstock Pre-Treatment and Management Practices

A shift towards resource recovery and renewable energy is leading water resource recovery facilities to evaluate co-digestion with residential and commercial food waste from both pre-consumer and post-consumer waste (source separated organic) feedstocks. Existing research on source separated organic co-digestion focuses on anaerobic digestion operational strategies and processes. There is minimal information on feedstock pre-treatment, characterization and management of contaminants, overall pre-treatment implementation and monitoring, and assessment of pre-treatment impacts on anaerobic digestion performance. This project will provide the industry with a technical foundation, associated guidance materials, and utilitarian tools to more comprehensively understand the various methods currently in use or potentially suitable for pre-treatment of source separated organics.