Local authorities
Energy from Waste
Our Energy-from-Waste plants allow you to be supplied with energy while setting up local recovery loops
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To remember
- Anaerobic digestion, a virtuous process
- Expertise and technologies with high added value
- Local resources at the service of the territories
Creating energy from the anaerobic digestion of biowaste
Global anaerobic digestion of biowaste is expanding rapidly, driven by rising demand for renewable natural gas and stricter waste‑management regulations. The market is growing strongly, as companies and local authorities aim at producing more local and renewable energy.
The recovery of biowaste by anaerobic digestion is part of a process of sorting, collection, and responsible waste management. It offers local authorities and companies concrete solutions to reduce food waste, recover organic waste and strengthen the energy autonomy of territories.
Anaerobic digestion is a natural biological process that transforms fermentable organic matter into renewable energy (electricity, heat, biomethane) thanks to biogas produced in an anaerobic environment (without oxygen) in a sealed anaerobic digestion plant.
This process This process enables the production of biogas, from which are generated:
Electricity and heat
after biogas cogeneration
Biomethane
injected into the grid or used as biofuel (BioCNG, BioLNG)
Digestate
An organic amendment, a genuine alternative to chemical fertilisers
Biogenic CO₂
to improve agricultural yields or in food processing
Biowaste represents a valuable source of organic matter that can be recycled. It comes from multiple sources:
Pictogram Generic - biodechets
Pictogram Generic - Matieres agricoles
We support local authorities, companies, farmers, manufacturers, and supermarkets in the management of biowaste and organic matter at each stage of the value chain. From collection to sorting at source, including depackaging, anaerobic digestion or composting, to the final recovery into biogas, digestate and quality compost, we offer tailor-made solutions adapted to the needs of all stakeholders.
We offer comprehensive support for:
Diagnosis of biowaste residues
Provision of suitable sorting containers
Organisation of dedicated collections for organic waste
Design and delivery of AD facilities
Local valorisation of materials into new resources
We provide end-to-end support for biowaste management
Preparation of biowaste: a key step before anaerobic digestion
We apply a rigorous, regulation-compliant process for preparing organic materials, optimising their conversion through methanisation or composting.
Biowaste recovery starts with effective source separation. Proper sorting at source is essential to ensure high-quality input streams, enabling efficient collection, preparation and recovery.
For biowaste, the priority is the removal of packaging and other non-organic materials that can disrupt the anaerobic digestion process. We invest in high-performance equipment to rapidly separate unwanted fractions (packaging, plastics and non-organic residues) from recoverable food and organic materials.
For biowaste, the priority is the removal of packaging and other non-organic materials that can disrupt the anaerobic digestion process. We invest in high-performance equipment to rapidly separate unwanted fractions (packaging, plastics and non-organic residues) from recoverable food and organic materials.
Enhanced input quality for efficient anaerobic digestion
This level of industrial performance enables anaerobic digestion plants to be supplied with high-quality inputs rich in methanogenic potential. This is essential for efficient energy recovery from biowaste, producing biogas, biomethane, heat, electricity as well as high-quality digestate, which allows organic matter to be returned to the soil, thereby avoiding the need for chemical fertilisers.
Performance and innovation supporting biowaste recovery
With the biowaste you entrust to us, we continuously develop more efficient technologies to generate high-value resources for local communities.
We recycle biowaste responsibly, placing innovation and the quality of materials at the heart of our sustainable waste management strategy. We recover 8.7 million tonnes of waste each year, in the form of materials or energy.
We ensure high performance in biowaste management through intelligent control across every stage of the process. By leveraging digital solutions, data analytics and advanced technologies, we optimise biogas production and secure anaerobic digestion operations.
Using predictive models and AI-based tools, we anticipate demand, support decision-making and improve energy recovery from biowaste. These systems enable optimised flow management from source separation through to collection and treatment.
BioResourceLab: an innovation centre dedicated to the recovery of biowaste and green chemistry
Created in 2021, the BioResourceLab is our research and innovation center dedicated to improving biowaste treatment solutions and developing new recovery pathways. This center explores advanced technologies to transform food and agricultural biowaste into bioenergy, biofuels, biomaterials, alternative fertilisers and molecules for green chemistry.
Paving the way for new biowaste recovery processes with bioCO₂ capture
We are pushing the boundaries of anaerobic digestion by developing innovative solutions to capture and recover biogenic CO₂ from the anaerobic digestion process. This carbon dioxide, which is naturally present in biogas, is considered a renewable resource, in the same way as biomethane, heat or electricity produced from organic waste.
Beyond agriculture, biogenic CO₂ can be used in many other local applications: food refrigeration, manufacture of CO₂ fire extinguishers, cultivation of algae for food or cosmetics.
European certification for high-quality digestates: our innovative agronomic solution
Since January 2025, the solid digestates from Terres d'Aquitaine (33 – France), which we operate, have benefited from an unprecedented European certification. This official recognition attests to the exceptional agronomic quality of these organic residues resulting from the anaerobic digestion process. This is a first in France, which confirms the Group's expertise in the recovery of biowaste and the sustainable management of organic waste.
This innovative product, marketed via our partner TERRIAL — our joint venture with AVRIL — is a high value-added agronomic solution. It makes it possible to recover biowaste into a quality organic amendment, helping to nourish the soil while reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers.
They trust us
Structuring the sector with agricultural partners
We support communities and agricultural stakeholders in setting up local loops that transform biowaste into resources.
A strong partnership with farmers
We recently signed a partnership with EMC2, the first cooperative in Lorraine with more than 3,000 farmers.
Objectives:
- Producing local green energy through anaerobic digestion.
- To use livestock manure to generate additional income.
- Returning digestate to the soil helps enrich soil quality and reduce reliance on mineral fertilisers.
The result is value-creating local cycles, sustainable solutions for farmers and a direct contribution to soil fertility.
Outlets for organic products
Downstream, we are developing markets for products derived from the recovery of biowaste.
In France, quality and traceability are ensured throughout the chain. Our subsidiary TERRIAL (50% SUEZ, 50% Groupe AVRIL) markets standardised compost produced at our facilities, as well as certified digestate, to a network of partners including cooperatives, spreading contractors and transport providers. These products are sourced from all our organic recovery centres and anaerobic digestion plants in France, ensuring consistent quality and full traceability.
Frequently asked questions
Anaerobic digestion is a natural biological process that converts food and organic biowaste into biogas; following the cogeneration of this biogas, it is possible to produce biomethane, heat, electricity and also high-quality digestate, which ensures that organic matter is returned to the soil, thereby avoiding the need for chemical fertilisers. It takes place in an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment within a methaniser.
Anaerobic digestion inputs include:
- Food waste from households, restaurants and food industries: supermarkets, food manufacturers and businesses.
- Agricultural materials such as manure, slurry, silage, etc.
Yes. In the UK, separate collection of food waste is being introduced under the Environment Act 2021 and associated “Simpler Recycling” regulations. In England, local authorities are required to implement weekly food waste collections for households by 31 March 2026, with phased rollout depending on local readiness and procurement timelines. Requirements for businesses are also being introduced on a staged basis.
This includes food waste and other biodegradable organic materials. At SUEZ, we support organisations in implementing suitable collection systems and treatment solutions tailored to operational needs.
For local authorities, there is a statutory duty to provide food waste collection services within the national rollout framework. For households and businesses, participation depends on implementation stage and local arrangements. We also provide engagement services to improve source separation and collection quality.
At SUEZ, our support is comprehensive:
- Diagnosis of biowaste residues
- Supply of suitable containers
- Organisation of dedicated collections
- Raising awareness amongst the community
These systems improve the quality of sorting, facilitate local recovery and meet regulatory obligations.
Depackaging is a key step in the biowaste recovery chain. It consists of separating packaging and non-fermentable materials from organic waste, in order to guarantee quality inputs for anaerobic digestion. We use high-performance industrial equipment, such as Vox Environnement's Bio SV , to ensure efficient sorting and maximise the energy and agronomic recovery of waste.
Anaerobic digestion is a concrete solution to:
- reduction of food waste.
- production of renewable energies (electricity, heat, biomethane).
- agronomic valorisation via digestate, an alternative to chemical fertilisers.
- capture of biogenic CO₂, used locally for agricultural and industrial applications.
- reduction of the carbon footprint and support for energy sovereignty.
Overall, anaerobic digestion promotes the production of local resources and contributes to improving yields, reducing the use of fossil fuels and enriching the soil.
Biogenic CO₂ is the carbon dioxide naturally present in biogas from anaerobic digestion. Thanks to the V'COOL® technology developed by our partner PRODEVAL, this bio-CO₂ is captured, purified and liquefied directly at the treatment sites. Capturing it thus prevents its release into the atmosphere and makes it a useful resource, particularly for greenhouse agriculture or industrial uses.
The digestates from anaerobic digestion are rigorously controlled at each stage of the process and are certified according to European standards. Thanks to partners such as TERRIAL, these organic fertilisers are marketed to agricultural players and constitute a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers, while guaranteeing it’s safe return to the soil.
We ensure the downstream recovery of biowaste thanks to solid partners such as TERRIAL, our joint venture with the AVRIL Group, which markets certified digestates and standardised composts to agricultural customers.
We are also a partner of EMC2, the first agricultural cooperative in Lorraine, which entrusts us with its livestock manure in order to produce local green energy, and redistribute it to partner structures to enrich the soil with digestate.
Innovation is at the heart of our strategy at SUEZ, for sustainable management of biowaste. Thanks to our centers such as the BioResourceLab, the Group develops advanced recovery solutions in:
- Bioenergy,
- biofuels,
- biomaterials,
- Alternative fertilisers and molecules for green chemistry
These innovations are tested at different scales from the laboratory to industrial sites by multidisciplinary teams including researchers, engineers, technicians and PhD students. We also collaborate with academic institutions such as INRAE and technology start-ups to accelerate the development of solutions adapted to climate challenges and environmentally responsible practices.
Our other solutions to produce and consume renewable energies