On 15 October 2013 the AMDEA FWD Group organised a round table discussion at the prestigious Royal Society, for waste policy advisers and regulators, entitled The Role of Food Waste Disposers in Waste Management Policy & Practice.

Four sessions were led by visiting experts from Italy, Denmark, Sweden and the USA. The first section looked at Italian studies of the economic and environmental viability of FWDs in small and large communities; the second presentation analysed the Danish situation 16 years after a landfill ban, where they are now reconsidering FWDs as a means of increasing biogas production; the third speaker examined the evidence from Surahammar where long term FWD usage by 50% of the community has brought benefits to both residents and the administration; and the final session examined research on wastewater treatment in the USA.

The packed “round table” included representatives of government departments, the UK’s leading water research consultants, environmental experts, water companies, WRAP, local authority waste managers (including the Greater London Authority), as well as those involved in the large on-going Local Government Association FWD trials. Two of the devolved administrations have requested material from the proceedings and AMDEA is delighted that the event was such a success. We hope to run some similar events in the future as they do offer an ideal opportunity for stakeholders to meet under the Chatham House Rule, promoting free and frank discussions.

Key findings from the event, and the speakers’ presentations can be found on the FWD group website.