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Feedstock: Food Waste
Food waste is a growing feedstock for biogas. The CO₂ it produces is a growing opportunity.
The US generates roughly 80 million tons of food waste annually. A growing number of facilities are diverting this waste from landfills into anaerobic digesters, where it breaks down into biogas — a mix of methane and CO₂. When that biogas is upgraded to RNG, the CO₂ fraction is separated and typically vented.
CleanCycleCarbon captures this vented CO₂ and purifies it to FDA-registered, beverage-grade quality. The result: food waste goes in, and commercial CO₂ comes out — along with the RNG that was already the facility's primary product.
Food waste diversion mandates are accelerating this trend. California, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and other states now require large food waste generators to divert from landfill. Each new digester is a potential CO₂ capture site.
State-level food waste diversion mandates are driving rapid expansion of commercial anaerobic digestion capacity, especially in California, the Northeast, and the Pacific Northwest.
Food waste digesters tend to be located near population centers — where the waste is generated. This means CO₂ supply closer to major consumer markets for beverages and food processing.
Food waste is generated year-round. Unlike agricultural waste that follows harvest cycles, food waste from grocery stores, restaurants, and food processors flows continuously.
CO₂ from food waste digestion is biogenic. This distinction matters for carbon accounting, ESG reporting, and programs that differentiate CO₂ by origin.
Food waste biogas contains contaminants that require careful handling: hydrogen sulfide, ammonia (from protein-rich waste), volatile organic compounds, and high moisture content. CleanCycleCarbon's multi-stage cryogenic process removes these contaminants and produces a final product at 99.9% purity meeting ISBT beverage-grade specifications.
The capture system deploys on-site at the food waste digester. CleanCycleCarbon handles all engineering, permitting, construction, and operations. The host facility provides access to the CO₂-rich gas stream — no capital investment required. Learn more about hosting a capture project.
Biogas from food waste digesters is typically 35-45% CO₂. A mid-size facility processing 100-200 tons of feedstock per day can produce thousands of tons of CO₂ annually.
Yes. Our cryogenic process removes H₂S, ammonia, VOCs, and moisture to produce 99.9% purity CO₂ meeting FDA and ISBT specifications.
No. CleanCycleCarbon handles all capital investment, construction, and operations. The host provides access to the gas stream.
Let's explore how CO₂ capture can add a revenue stream to your operation.