PurposeEnergy, which designs, builds, owns, and operates industrial anaerobic digestion infrastructure, has commissioned a $40 million industrial food waste and wastewater pre-treatment facility in Minster, Ohio. This project marks Danone’s first project with the company,
Designed to process up to 250,000 gallons per day, the facility, when fully operational, is expected produce about 50,000 MMBtu of renewable biogas per year. The site has an official opening planned for spring of 2027.
The facility will convert wastewater and high-strength organic food waste piped directly from Danone USA’s largest US yogurt manufacturing facility, and from other regional food and beverage producers. This will be converted into renewable biogas, water treated to municipal discharge standards, and nutrient-rich soil amendments.
The renewable biogas will be piped to a dedicated boiler at Danone’s Minster plant, where it will displace conventional natural gas. According to standard EPA/EIA combustion emission factors, the project is equivalent to displacing approximately 3,200 U.S. tons of CO2e per year.
Heiko Gerling, chief operating officer of Danone Americas, said: “The PurposeEnergy facility is an example of our Danone Impact Journey in action and part of our wider Re-Fuel energy excellence program, helping turn organic material from our Minster plant into renewable biogas that can be piped back to the plant and used through a new biogas boiler. What makes this project especially meaningful is how it brings together industry, local infrastructure, and community stakeholders around a shared goal. It is a powerful example of how operational growth and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.”
Eric Fitch, founder and CEO of PurposeEnergy said: “This project is an excellent example of PurposeEnergy’s role in creating circularity benefits for food and beverage manufacturing.
“Food manufacturers shouldn’t have to choose between growing production and meeting their environmental commitments. With this facility anchored near Danone’s Minster plant, we can give our partner a solution that supports both their goals.”
PurposeEnergy estimates piping residuals directly from Danone’s Minster plant to the facility avoids about 720 U.S. tons of CO2e each year compared with the previous off-site handling process.
PurposeEnergy finances, builds, owns, and operates industrial anaerobic digestion facilities for food and beverage manufacturers. It converts high-strength organic waste into renewable energy, clean water, and fertilizer, and runs each site for the life of the project,