This paper assesses the resource of biomethane produced from food waste at a state level in the EU. The
resource is dependent on the quantity of food waste available for anaerobic digestion and the specific
methane yield from food waste. The specific method of undertaking biomethane potential (BMP) tests
was shown to be crucial. BMP tests were carried out at different scales (5 L and 0.5 L) with different
sources of inoculum, for both wet and dried substrate samples. The upper bound BMP results for source
segregated canteen food waste gave specific methane yields of between 467 and 529 L CH4 per kg volatile
solids added. The higher results were associated with acclimatised inoculum and wet samples of food
waste. The potential renewable resource of biomethane from food waste is shown to be equivalent to
2.8% of energy in transport in Ireland; this is significant as it surpasses the resource associated with electrifying
10% of the private car fleet in Ireland, which is currently the preferred option for renewable
energy in transport in the country. However for this resource to be realised within the EU, source segregation
of food waste must be effected. According to the Animal By-Products Regulations, digestate from
source segregated food waste may be applied to agricultural land post anaerobic digestion. Digestate
from food waste derived from a mixed waste source may not be applied to agricultural land. Thus biomethane
from food waste is predicated on source segregation of food waste.