Ben And Jerry's New Wastewater Plant Works A Lot Like The Human Body - CleanTechnica

Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory in Vermont has implemented an innovative wastewater treatment system that mimics the human digestive process to manage its organic waste. Recognizing that ice cream production generates intense dairy waste unsuitable for conventional wastewater facilities—and that Vermont law prohibits sending organic waste to landfills—the company partnered with PurposeEnergy to develop an anaerobic digester system. This “constructed gut” processes high-strength organic waste and out-of-spec food products by harnessing microbial activity to convert the waste into methane gas, which is then captured and used to generate renewable electricity. The anaerobic digester, operational since December 2024, receives waste directly from Ben and Jerry’s production lines via a dedicated pipeline. It produces over one megawatt of electricity, enough to power approximately 1,300 Vermont homes, while also treating the residual water to remove particulates. This system exemplifies Ben and Jerry’s broader commitment to reducing environmental impacts across water, solid waste, energy, and CO2 emissions, aligning with their