Emissions produced at processing plants
Meat processing plants produce greenhouse gases from energy use and waste treatment.
Electricity and thermal energy (from gas or coal) account for most of the energy consumption. Electricity runs refrigeration, compressors, electrical motors, air compressors and lighting, whilst thermal energy is consumed by on-site treatment of waste products and hot water heating.
The amount of fossil fuel generated energy consumed in processing plants varies between sites and is dependent on many factors such as the:
- Age and condition of equipment
- Type of freezing conducted on site (for example blast or plate)
- Percentage of the product that is frozen
- Type of fuel used in the boiler
- and whether aerators are used in the wastewater treatment system
How the processing sector is facing the challenge
The red meat processing sector has made significant investments in modern technologies, practices and staff training to minimise environmental impact and to ensure natural resources are used in a responsible and efficient manner.
In addition to traditional energy saving approaches, the primary option available to the processing sector in reducing emissions lies in methane capture and use.
Research into converting organic by-products into energy is advancing rapidly, with facilities opening up in Australia and overseas.
Converting waste into energy
One of the biggest environmental challenges for meat processing plants is managing waste.
A 2003 study of 10 meat processing plants across Australia found that, on average, the amount of solid waste sent to landfill is 6% of the waste generated. The industry is consistently striving to reduce this.
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Over 90% of solid waste produced is reused, mostly as compost.
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One way we are doing this is by looking at converting waste into energy, by:
- Utilising solid waste streams as alternative boiler fuels
- Using pyrolysis technology to recover energy (syngas) as well as creating biochar (a stable form of charcoal that can be used to store carbon, improve soil health and increase crop yields) from organic solid waste streams
- Processing organic solid waste streams (via solid anaerobic digestion) to create biogas for use in boilers or to generate electricity