How Anaerobic Digestion Works: Dairy

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Brightmark's circularity centers capture food waste and animal manure from agricultural facilities and convert that waste into renewable natural gas, fertilizer, and water that can be recycled back into agricultural and energy systems for reuse—through the process of anaerobic digestion*.

* Anaerobic digestion

The chemical process by which organic matter is broken down by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen, which results in the generation of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). A renewable source of energy.

DIGESTERS AT ATHENA PROJECT IN SOUTH DAKOTA

Anaerobic digestion recaptures the value in organic waste streams.

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My dad came home from work and had this big idea about partnering with Brightmark. He said, 'This is going to be a great idea. We're really going to help save the environment here.'

Lily Larson // 4th Generation Farmer

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Here's a glimpse of how it works

STEP 1

Collect

Manure, food, and other organic waste are collected on farms, food processing facilities, and delivered from waste management companies.

STEP 2

Digest

The waste is deposited into a digester that extracts and captures methane gas from within.

STEP 3

Distribute

The methane is then separated, cleaned, and compressed into renewable natural gas (RNG), where it can be used as transportation fuel or for area residents for heating and power.

STEP 4

Re-use

The remaining solids are converted into organic fertilizer or compost. Recaptured water is returned directly to the farm or site on which the digester is located for reuse.