An Introduction to Verigreen

Verigreen holds a unique position within the Heathcote Holdings group as one of leading food waste specialists covering Kent, the Southeast and the UK. Collecting all types of food from across all sectors, Verigreen converts surplus food waste from an environmental liability into a valuable energy resource.

The Heathcote Holdings Group understood the necessity for a dedicated food waste collection service and created the Verigreen business back in 2019. This service offers huge benefits to businesses as well as delivering long-term sustainability to the environment.

In 2021, the UK Government first passed the Environmental Act on Food Waste and in 2023, this new legislation came into effect. This Act supports the commitment of the UK government towards eliminating food waste and mandatory separation of food waste with a target of 75% recycling by 2030. Verigreen and sister company Countrystyle Recycling are well positioned to pick up the food waste demand and offer customers a dedicated food waste collection service. The business utilises a network of exclusive licensed anaerobic digestion (AD) plants throughout the UK, this can minimise the distance food waste has to travel, helps reduce the carbon footprint and ensures that the energy it creates is fed back to local communities and the organic fertiliser produced goes to local farms.

The surplus waste collected is processed through a network of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants. These plants safely capture the methane emitted from waste which creates renewable biogas used to heat and power plants or is upgraded into biomethane to fuel vehicles or be fed into the national gas grid.

The plants also produce nutrient-rich organic fertiliser reducing the need for the chemical fertilisers which have seriously negative impacts on the environment. The digestate is PAS 110 accredited which can be used on farms, horticultural enterprises and landscaping projects. This process all adds up to the best possible outcome for food waste and better than chemical composting in terms of carbon emissions.

Verigreen has had a successful start and produced some excellent results with impressive end of year sales turnover of £1.1m+ with 23% margin.