PORT DICKSON: Efforts to generate electricity from food waste is moving ahead with the implementation of the anaerobic digestion system launched at Kampung Gelam here today.
Dubbed the Green Food Premise Site, this pilot project aims to utilise the use of environment-friendly food packaging or boxes to produce biogas.
Sirim group president and chief executive Professor Dr Ahmad Fadzil M Hani said, through the project, food packages name ‘Green Blue’ (GB) will be distributed to 20 selected retailers in the city.
“The GB packaging is special because it is produced without the use of chemicals that are harmful to the body. Most importantly the packaging can be processed with food waste to be used as biogas that will generate electricity.
“The idea is that food waste with GB packaging should not be removed as usual, but they are collected and send to an anaerobic digestive system site for processing,” he said at the launch of the project.
The ceremony was officiated by Port Dickson Municipal Councillor (MPPD) Datuk Abd Rahman Mohd Redza, who is also the Linggi state assemblyman. Also present was MPPD President, Zamri Mat Kassim.
Meanwhile, Sirim Environmental Technology Centre general manager Isnazunita Ismail said the RM500,000 anaerobic digestive system will be able to produce five kilowatts of electricity from 500kg of food waste.
“The process starts with crushing the food waste and putting it into a special tank containing bacteria. The bacteria will turn the food waste into biogas before it is being turned into electricity,” she said.
He said the main challenge faced lies in the effort to ensure that food waste delivered to the site do not contain non-processable materials, especially hard objects including large animal bones, clam shells, cans, stones, and chemicals, among others.
Hence, the project, among others, will see an emphasis on raising awareness to send the message home on the importance of removing materials that cannot be processed.