How It Works

How It Works

Vanguard Organics Codigestion

The Farm Powered Anaerobic Digestion Process

A zero-waste closed loop lifecycle, Farm Powered organics-to-renewable energy combines unusable food and beverage waste and farm manure to generate clean, renewable energy and low carbon fertilizer.

THE FARM POWERED ANAEROBIC DIGESTION PROCESS

1
Food and beverage waste is collected for recycling

Inedible or unusable food and beverage waste and other organic waste is collected in sealed trucks and delivered to a Farm Powered anaerobic digester and combined with farm manure in a sealed biodigester tank. Waste requiring pre-processing, such as depackaging, goes first to the Organics Receiving Area and then is sent to one of our Farm Powered anaerobic digesters.

2
Food and beverage waste is combined with manure in the Farm Powered anaerobic digester

Food and beverage waste is combined with farm manure in an anaerobic digester. Microorganisms that naturally occur in manure digest the waste, converting sugars, fats, and other compounds into biogas. Harnessing this waste’s energy captures as much as 95 percent of the potential greenhouse gas emissions that would result if the food and beverage waste was sent to landfill or the farm manure was field applied. This process produces biogas, a renewable energy fuel source.

3
Biogas is captured and converted into renewable energy and low-carbon fertilizer

Biogas is cleaned to produce renewable natural gas for heating and cooling or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles. It can also be converted into renewable electricity. The remaining liquid digestate is a low-carbon fertilizer that supports regenerative agriculture practice and reduces farm dependence on chemical fertilizers. The dry byproduct is used for animal bedding. Farms also receive heat and hot water for farm operations and a host lease payment.

OPERATING PROJECTS

Vanguard has 11 operating facilities with more than 50 in permitting or construction nationwide.

Farm Powered Projects

Goodrich Farm Salisbury, VT
Jordan Dairy Farm, Rutland, MA
Organics Receiving Area
Bar-Way Farm, Deerfield, MA
Barstow'a Longview Farm, Hadley, MA
Crescent Farm, Haverhill, MA
Jordan Dairy Farm, Spencer, MA

SAFETY FIRST

The safety of our employees is our greatest responsibility, so we demand constant vigilance to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. With safety as a core value, we nurture a culture that protects our employees, visitors, and everyone who calls the areas around our work sites “home.”

We begin with the belief that all accidents and injuries are preventable. The only acceptable number of incidents is zero — and we work continuously toward that goal. Our safety plans are comprehensive and prioritized by every member of our team, from the CEO to the safety officer to those in the field. We identify and manage risk through recognition, evaluation, education, and action. And we live the plan every day with training, accountability, and consistent interaction.

Job-specific safety plans, devised during the design phase, are constantly adapted to real time conditions, operations, and behavioral tracking data. As construction progresses, equipment management and critical lift plans are important components of our safety efforts, illustrative of our company-wide commitment to the wellbeing of our workforce.

Our unyielding focus on safety benefits clients too. A safe site means a well-organized project that stays on schedule and engenders an environment where high quality standards are met.

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