Generating energy from coffee wastewater

摘要

Latin America produces around 70% of the world's coffee, but coffee production generates large volumes of wastewater that is toxic and has a high organic content, which is regularly released untreated into rivers. This coffee wastewater also generates considerable greenhouse-gas emissions, particularly methane. The Energy from Coffee Wastewater project by UTZ Certified, which started in 2010, was set up to address these environmental and health problems caused by the waste-water produced in the coffee industry.Tailor-made coffee wastewater treatment systems and solid waste treatment mechanisms were installed in eight coffee farms in Nicaragua, ten in Honduras and one in Guatemala.The positive outcomes have now inspired UTZ Certified to replicate the initiative in other countries.