Food waste from Somerset to power 1,700 homes

A recycling centre for Somerset's food waste could generate enough electricity to power 1,700 homes.

The site will use an anaerobic digester and is due to be built at Walpole, to the north of Bridgwater.

Some 30,000 tonnes of peelings, old fruit and dinner plate waste will be put through the new plant when it is completed in April 2013.

Somerset Waste Board believe the process will save council taxpayers £1m over the next five years.

Waste material arriving at the site will be mixed with water and the gas that is produced, after cleaning, can be used to generate power.

Left over liquid and solid waste can also be used as a soil conditioner.