Bio-Bus runs on human and food waste

UK waste recycling company GENeco has launched a bus powered by the treatment of sewage and food waste. The 40-seater Bio-Bus can travel up to 300 km on a full tank of gas - which takes the annual waste of around five people to produce - generated at the Bristol sewage treatment works, run by GENeco.

Bristol sewage treatment works treats around 75 million m³ of sewage waste and 35,000 tonnes of food waste - collected from households, supermarkets and food manufacturers - every year. Through anaerobic digestion, 17 million m³ of biomethane is generated - the equivalent of meeting the power needs of 8300 homes. Not only does the sustainable, renewable biomethane reduce reliance on fossil fuels, it also produces fewer emissions than traditional diesel engines.

GENeco has now become the first company in the UK to start injecting gas generated from food waste and sewage into the national gas grid network and, at the same time, installed a gas refuelling plant for the bus. The annual waste generated from one busload of passengers would provide enough power for the bus to travel from one end of the United Kingdom to the other and back again.

Charlotte Morton, the chief executive of the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA), said: “GENeco’s Bio-Bus is an excellent demonstration of biomethane’s unique benefits, decarbonising areas other renewables can’t reach. A home-generated green gas, biomethane is capable of replacing around 10% of the UK’s domestic gas needs and is currently the only renewable fuel available for HGVs.”

The Bio-Bus has received backing from a number of businesses, including its manufacturer, Scania, as well as Roadgas, CNG Services, Dampney’s Agri Environmental, Trant, Grontmij and AIR Decker. Bath Bus Company has said it is extremely pleased to be using the bus for its A4 service from Bath to Bristol Airport via South Bristol.

“The timing of this initiative could not be more appropriate as we approach 2015, when the City of Bristol itself becomes European Green Capital,” said Bath Bus Company Engineering Director Collin Field. “With so much attention being directed towards improving air quality generally, the public reaction to the appearance of this bus on a service between a World Heritage City and an airport will further focus on the potential for this particular fuel.”

Morton added, “The bus also clearly shows that human poo and our waste food are valuable resources. Food which is unsuitable for human consumption should be separately collected and recycled through anaerobic digestion into green gas and biofertilisers, not wasted in landfill sites or incinerators. The Bio-Bus will also help to demonstrate the true value of separate food waste collections, which are now obligatory in all other regions, to the English government.”

Field said up to 10,000 passengers are expected to travel on the Bio-Bus service every month.

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