Biodigester near Denmark to turn waste into usable products

From an article by Richard Ryman in the Green Bay Press Gazette:

NEW DENMARK — It looks like a big cement box and in operation resembles a cow’s stomach, but a commercial anaerobic biodigester under construction just southeast of Denmark will fill a lot of roles.

NEW Organic Digestion, owned by American Foods Group and the people who own Northern Concrete, is building the facility primarily to dispose of byproducts from American Foods’ operations in Green Bay.

The project will cost between $5 million and $6 million, said co-owner Rob Larsen. The biodigester will hold a little more than 2 million gallons working its way through the tank on a 22-day cycle. Larsen said they will be able to add 60 to 100 tons to the process daily. They expect to put it into service in March.

The process will result in several products, including methane gas, electricity, heat and waste solids that can be used for cattle bedding or other purposes.
Larsen said his family, dad John Larsen in particular, have been land-applying paunch manure for American Foods for years.

Paunch manure is partially digested food, usually consumed the same day the cow is slaughtered. The waste includes wash water and unused fats.