USE OF SLAUGHTERHOUSE WASTE FOR ENERGY PURPOSES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

Abstract

In the Republic of Serbia, large quantities of animal waste are generated that are not managed adequately. A particular category of this waste is slaughterhouse waste, which has significant potential to be used for energy purposes. Most slaughterhouses and private farms are forced to independently resolve the issue of disposing of slaughterhouse waste, which often ends up in illegal dumps, endangering human health and the environment. The aim of this paper is to highlight the possibilities of transforming slaughterhouse waste into a useful resource for generating thermal and electrical energy in the process of biogas production. Existing biogas plants that use or will use slaughterhouse waste as a substrate have been analyzed. The main energy effect of plants that use slaughterhouse waste is ‘green’ sustainable megawatts of electrical energy. According to expert estimates, approximately two megawatts of electrical energy can be produced from 100 tons of slaughterhouse waste. The ecological benefits of using slaughterhouse waste for energy purposes include protecting human health, watercourses, and groundwater.