Resource Recovery Cooperatives for the Security of Consistent, Quality Codigestion Feedstock

Codigesting wastewater utilities typically have regulatory control of FOG at the food service establishment (FSE), and ownership of FOG at the wastewater plant after a tipping transaction, but lose control within the shoulders of the supply chain. This loss of control between the initial regulatory transaction and the WWTP tipping transaction creates uncertainties related to codigestion feedstock security, feedstock quality and contamination, operational logistics and costs at the plant, and related economics. Tempe Arizona’s use of a retailers’ cooperative model for FOG collection and recovery gives the utility an opportunity, through contract, for total control over the feedstock throughout the supply-chain, and for better long-term feedstock security over the operational life of FOG receiving and codigestion facilities.