Requirement

In 2023, The States of Guernsey tendered transport and treatment of their food waste. Following this competitive tender process, Biogen were successful and commenced a thorough and comprehensive mobilisation process ensuring the service was ready for delivery from the commencement date of 1st January 2024.

The States of Guernsey produce around 5,500 tonnes of food waste annually. Due to there currently being no treatment options on-island, there is a requirement for Guernsey’s food waste to be treated on the mainland UK.

Other requirements included:

• Efficient collection of pre-processed food waste from Guernsey’s Longue Hougue waste transfer station.
• Reliable shipping and haulage to Biogen’s Basingstoke Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility in the UK
• Coordinated operations to ensure sufficient tank availability and continuity of service
• A sustainable approach that minimises costs, carbon footprint, and operational risks

Solution

Working with local subcontract transport provider, Profreight, Biogen provides a transport and treatment solution for 5,500 tonnes of pre-processed food waste from Guernsey annually. These tonnages are processed at Biogen’s Basingstoke AD facility, which is the closest available Biogen treatment facility.

Biogen’s solution has been carefully designed to reflect the unique requirements of the States of Guernsey to deliver a best-value high quality solution for Guernsey’s residents. An effective mobilisation plan and regular stakeholder meetings ensured a smooth transition and ongoing collaboration.

Biogen’s ongoing partnership with States of Guernsey and Profreight has recently been recognised at industry level. Our collaboration was shortlisted for ‘Partnership of the Year’ in the prestigious 2025 Letsrecycle Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management.

Other key elements of the solution are as follows:

• Biogen coordinating food waste deliveries with other waste streams to ensure efficiency and continuity
• Strong communication between all parties through structured mobilisation and ongoing meetings
• Profreight providing local expertise, a Guernsey depot, and shipping/transport knowledge between the Channel Islands and UK
• The States of Guernsey leveraging expertise in pre-processing, tank fill management, and collection frequencies

Outcome

Less than two years into the contract, the partnership has already delivered measurable impact and long-term value.

Highlights include:

• Seamless contract mobilisation despite the challenges of a post-Christmas start
• Transition from containerised shipping to roll-on roll-off ferries; this has driven efficiencies across the service and resulted in reduced damages to equipment
• Added value initiatives, including the fitting of weighing scales to tanks, maximising payloads, reducing haulage costs and cutting emissions
• Annual offset of 500 tonnes of carbon to mitigate transport impacts, alongside delivering a value-for-money service to Guernsey’s community.
• A continually evolving partnership that strengthens Guernsey’s already world-class recycling rate (68% in 2022/23)

Comment

Biogen’s collaboration with the States of Guernsey builds on our extensive experience of providing food waste treatment services on behalf of over 30 local authorities across the UK. We are delighted with the progress of our contract with the States of Guernsey, which has delivered excellent results and a better, more reliable food waste transport and treatment solution for Guernsey’s residents. This has recently culminated in Biogen’s partnership with the States of Guernsey and Profreight being shortlisted for ‘Partnership of the Year’ in the prestigious 2025 Letsrecycle Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management. We look forward to building on these solid foundations as we continue to provide the States of Guernsey with the high standards of service expected from Biogen.