Kingsbury Bioenergy

The Kingsbury Bioenergy facility is a liquid-state anaerobic digestion system designed by Global Water & Energy (GWE) to process pre-consumer food waste and fats, oils, and grease (FOG). Incoming solid food waste is depackaged using a Mavitec depacker, which produces a clean organic slurry with very low residual plastic or inert contamination. Liquid FOG is screened to remove grit and debris prior to processing.

The organic slurry is treated through thermophilic anaerobic digestion, a biological process that converts food waste into biogas. The process does not involve hazardous chemicals. Limited process additives may include food-grade or industrial antifoaming agents, small amounts of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for pH control if required, and trace micronutrients (e.g., iron, cobalt) commonly used to support microbial health in digesters.

Organic Waste Criteria

Organic feedstock for anaerobic digestion must be biologically degradable and matched to the facility’s digester design and capacity, with moisture typically maintained around 70–83% to support microbial activity. Materials must be free of hazardous contaminants, metals and non‑biodegradable or non‑organic items that could harm digesters; wastes should also have an appropriate nutrient balance and low toxicity to promote efficient digestion. All incoming loads must undergo visual inspection and testing to verify chemical, physical and biological criteria, with chain‑of‑custody, segregation and documented rejection protocols in place to prevent contamination and ensure biogas quality.

Suitable Organic Waste Streams

Suitable organic waste streams for anaerobic digestion include industrial and commercial kitchen waste (food processing residues and scraps), agricultural residues and manure, meat and fish processing by-products, yard and green waste (grass clippings, leaves, wood chips), depackaged food separated from packaging, dairy residues (molasses, whey), animal manure from livestock, and biosolids/sludge from municipal or industrial wastewater treatment. These feedstocks provide readily digestible organics, sugars, and nutrients that boost biogas production and can serve as bulk or co‑feedstock to balance digestion; depackaged and preprocessed wastes diversify sources and increase organic content. Note: animal manure and wastewater sludge are highlighted as not allowable for the LaPorte, IN anaerobic digestion facility.

Unsuitable Organic Waste Streams

Organic waste streams unsuitable for anaerobic digestion include non‑biodegradable materials (plastics, glass, metals, rubber) and highly inert solids (stones, concrete) that cannot be broken down and can damage equipment; toxic, hazardous, or chemically preserved wastes (solvents, pesticides, paints, canned/preserved food) and fuels/petroleum derivatives that inhibit microbial activity or pose safety risks; high‑salinity or otherwise toxic wastes that harm microbial populations; wastes contaminated with heavy metals or radioactive materials which are regulated and unsafe; and wastes with very low organic content that offer limited biogas potential and cause inefficient digestion

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is a low-carbon, waste-derived fuel used to power vehicles, homes and businesses around the world.

How does it work? Every community in America produces waste. As that waste breaks down, it emits methane, which is a naturally occurring, but potent and harmful greenhouse gas (GHG).

RNG projects capture this methane from existing food waste, animal manure, wastewater sludge and garbage, and redirect it away from the environment — repurposing it as a sustainable, reliable form of alternative energy. Made from matter that is already decomposing right under our feet, RNG is the product of pure innovation and ingenuity.

RNG is nearly chemically identical with fossil-derived natural gas — and therefore can be transported, stored or used through existing gas infrastructure. This helps explain why scores of farms, businesses and residents in North America and around the world are increasingly turning to RNG to replace their fossil fuel supply. In Europe, certain forward-thinking countries are already planning to replace 100% of their fossil gas supply with RNG within this decade.

After digestion, the material is mechanically dewatered using screw presses with the addition of a liquid polymer to aid solids separation. The resulting solid digestate consists primarily of stabilized organic matter and moisture, with significantly reduced odors and pathogens due to the high-temperature digestion process. No industrial wastes, hazardous materials, or toxic compounds are introduced at any stage of the process.

The solid digestate is suitable for use as landfill daily cover and is not expected to create operational, environmental, or regulatory concerns when managed in accordance with standard landfill practices.