A public-private partnership is launching a pilot organic waste-to-energy pilot project.

Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Spectrum BioEnergy LLC will convert wastewater sludge, food scraps, fats, oil and grease into renewable energy by using an organic waste grinder (OWG) operated by Lockport, N.Y.-based Garb-el Products Co., an organic waste management company.  

The Albany County Sewer District also is a partner, and the project is getting  financial support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Garb-el said in a news release. The sludge from the Albany County South Wastewater Treatment Plant, along with food waste from the neighboring city of Watervliet and from Bimbo Bakeries USA, will be grinded into a fine slurry before being fed into the main digester of the biogas system. The Garb-el OWG will operate on recycled effluent from the digester, making the design of the project a completely closed loop and energy-efficient system.