HomeBiogas 2.0 can accept any type of food waste or animal manure, one of the many advantages it has over composting. However, not all waste is created equal—some materials are naturally more adept than others at generating biogas. In order to help you figure out which types of manure and food waste will yield you the most biogas, we have compiled this simple guide.
Animal Manure
Biogas yields from highest to lowest:
Poultry* 5. Rabbit
Pig 6. Goat
Cow 7. Buffalo
Horse 8. Sheep
Dog, cat, and human waste also work to produce biogas but are limited in comparison to the amount that livestock manure can produce.
*Although poultry manure has a high biogas potential, it is hardly utilized for biogas production because it contains large amounts of ammonia. Its effective utilization as a biodigester feedstock requires that it go through an ammonia stripping process.
Food Waste
Despite the fact that animal manure is usually available in large quantities and is full of nutrients, food waste has a higher energy-generating potential because it has not yet been digested by the stomach of an animal. For food waste, fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) are especially productive, though not recommended in large quantities. But overall, feedstock high in calories, fat, starch, and sugar usually produces more biogas than other foods.
High biogas yield: bread, corn, peas
Low biogas yield: fish, poultry, water, spinach
Aside from animal manure and food waste, many people are curious about whether or not adding yard trimmings to biodigesters is acceptable and efficient. Due to their cellular structure, they are difficult for biodigesters to break down without taking additional pretreatment steps.
Why the Difference?
Many factors contribute to the varying levels of biogas yields from animal and food waste. These include but are not limited to the sex and diet of the animal, the temperature surrounding the biodigester (the warmer the better), and the surface area of the feedstock (the more the merrier). You should use the information above to help maximize your biogas production, but do not let it discourage you from recycling all of your food and animal waste, because every drop counts when it comes to keeping waste out of landfills.