News Releases from Region 04

EPA Announces the Selection of Florida Atlantic University to Receive $195,426 in Funding to Support Anaerobic Digestion

Nationally, 12 Organizations selected to receive $3 million in funding to support anaerobic digestion in communities

West Palm Beach, Fla. – (October 1, 2020) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton as part of a total of 12 recipients to receive approximately $3 million in funding to help reduce food loss and waste and to divert food waste from landfills by expanding anaerobic digester capacity in the United States. The project types selected for funding include feasibility studies, demonstration projects, as well as technical assistance and training. EPA anticipates that it will make these awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.

“Finding solutions to better curb food waste continues to be a top priority for the Trump administration,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “This year’s round of innovative community projects is focusing on ways to reduce food waste at the local and state levels and divert it from landfills.”

“EPA commends Florida Atlantic University for stepping up to research solutions to reduce food loss and waste,” said EPA Region 4 Administrator Mary S. Walker. “We look forward to the sustainable environmental results that will help create a cleaner, healthier environment.”

"FAU is excited to transform food waste into sustainable energy resources at wastewater treatment facilities so that communities across the country can benefit from our work," said Dr. Daniel E. Meeroff, Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatics Engineering at Florida Atlantic University.

Florida Atlantic University is anticipated to receive $195,426 to systematically develop the science needed to build the foundation of a regional organics diversion model that takes advantage of excess digester capacity at local wastewater treatment facilities.

This anaerobic digestion funding opportunity is a part of EPA’s efforts and contributions to the Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative, a partnership among EPA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Food and Drug Administration, to reduce food loss and waste through individual and combined federal action. Anaerobic digestion is a process where microorganisms break down organic materials, such as food scraps, manure and sewage sludge, all in the absence of oxygen. Anaerobic digestion produces biogas, which can be captured and used for energy production, and “digestate,” a nutrient-rich product, such as a fertilizer.

Anaerobic digestion is a strategy included in EPA’s food recovery hierarchy that is preferable to landfilling/incineration because it reclaims valuable resources. Keeping food waste from landfills, such as transforming it into fuel or fertilizer, can save money and reduce environmental impacts.

The remaining eleven projects selected for funding are:

• Central New York Technology Development Organization (Liverpool, N.Y.): Plans to install equipment to increase digester capacity, host community education/outreach tours, and develop a case study for this demonstration project.
• Center for EcoTechnology (Pittsfield, Mass.): Plans to work with government agencies, haulers, food businesses, trade associations, and others in the Northeast US to provide technical assistance, training and capacity building that will develop and disseminate AD resources.
• City of Oxnard (Oxnard, Calif.): Plans to conduct a feasibility evaluation for the city’s organic waste and test run delivery to the city’s wastewater treatment plant for co-digestion.
• Dickinson College (Carlisle, Pa.): Plans to conduct research to establish the impact of different kinds of feedstock blends on digester performance and provide field days, youth content, a video and conference workshops.  
• Emory University (Atlanta, Ga.): Plans to establish a prototype on campus as a demonstration site to design AD that seeks to reduce Environmental Justice concerns that can be replicated by universities, corporations, local communities, and governments.
• Montana State University (Bozeman, Mont.): Plans to initiate a pilot study to facilitate the upscaling of anaerobic digestion of food scraps in households and produce outreach materials on the project.
• North Central Texas Council of Governments (Arlington, Texas): Plans to coordinate with stakeholders in the North Central Texas region to complete a food waste to fuel feasibility study.
• University of California-Davis (Davis, Calif.): Will demonstrate a system for biomass recycling and creation of ammonia fertilizer to optimize their current digester system and disseminate results.
• University of Illinois-Chicago (Chicago, Ill.): Plans to create a technical and educational assistance center focused on helping AD facilities interested in creating, expanding, or fully utilizing its capacity and the accompanying biogas and digestate.
• University of Missouri-Columbia (Columbia, Mo.): Plans to conduct research on co-digestion of AD to provide technical assistance and outreach activities through partnership programs and trainings for farmers, schools, AD companies, and governments.
• Washington State University (Pullman, Wash.): Plans to leverage research and data derived from Washington State University’s partnerships with other state institutions to identify three optimal areas in Washington State for developing successful, multi-partner digester projects.

Background:

In 2019, EPA awarded a total of more than $110,000 in targeted cooperative agreements, to the city of Madison, Wisconsin, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and Washington State University’s Energy Program for expanding anaerobic digester capacity. Plans from these recipients include holding workshops promoting anaerobic digestion projects, providing subawards, and assistance opportunities for anaerobic digestion projects focusing on the food and beverage business sector.

For more information on anaerobic digestion, please visit: https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/anaerobic-digestion.

To learn about other EPA Resources and Possible Funding Opportunities Related to the Food System, please visit: https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/resources-and-possible-funding-opportunities-related-food-system