6700-03 Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digest

Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Introduction

2019 Stand-Alone Digester Survey
Thank you for your continued participation in EPA’s AD data collection project!
The survey has been streamlined making it even easier to submit your data. Two years of operating data (2017 and 2018) will be
collected this year. Completion of this survey is voluntary.
We hope the reports EPA has produced based on this data are useful to you and the rest of the biogas industry. As with previous years,
the data collected through this survey will also be aggregated prior to its release. Thank you for taking the time to provide survey data.
Your input is greatly appreciated.
The goals of this project have not changed. EPA is collecting the data requested in this survey to quantify and track the amount of food
waste processed and available processing capacity in the United States. The survey also requests information on types of feedstocks
processed, the sources of feedstocks and the end uses of anaerobic digestion products. This year (2019) is the third year of the
project.
Please contact us with any questions about the survey or suggestions for improvement.

The public reporting andrecord keepingburden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response. Sendcomments on the
Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including
through the use of automated collection techniques to the Director, Collection Strategies Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2822T), 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address.

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Facility and Contact Information

To allow interested parties to verify the completeness of EPA’s research, general information (facility name, city, state, facility type and
operational status) will be included in the report of findings (2020). All annual reports will be posted on EPA’s anaerobic digestion
website.

* 1. Project/Facility Information
Project/Facility Name
Street Address
City/Town
State

-- select state --

ZIP/Postal Code
Phone Number

* 2. Contact person for facility operations:
Name
Title
Email Address
Phone Number

3. If you do not wish to have your facility’s general information (facility name, city, state, facility type and
operational status) included in future EPA reports, please check the box below.
Please do not include the information above in future publications summarizing the data collected via this survey.

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Type of Stand-Alone Digester

This survey is designed to gather data for stand-alone anaerobic digesters. There are two main categories of stand-alone digesters:
Multi-Source Food Digester - A type of stand-alone digester that accepts and processes feedstocks from offsite sources. These
feedstocks are accepted both for their tipping fee revenue and their biogas yield potential. These digesters are sometimes called
“merchant digesters.” Feedstocks are predominantly food waste, although non-food waste feedstocks (e.g., manure and wastewater
solids) may also be processed at stand-alone digesters. In most instances, feedstocks are obtained from many different sources.
Industry Dedicated Digester - A type of stand-alone digester that is typically developed to manage food waste generated from a
single business (e.g., grocery store chain, food or beverage processing plant). These digesters do not typically accept organic
materials from other sources for tipping fees.

* 4. Which of the following choices best describes your facility?
Multi-Source Food Digester
Industry Dedicated Digester
Other - (please specifiy)

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Facility Operating Status

* 5. Facility operating status:
Planning stage; Design stage; Permitting Process
Under construction
Operational
Temporary shut-down
Ceased operation
Other (please specify)

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Planning Stage; Design Stage; Permitting Process

* 6. What is the targeted date for your facility to become operational (MM/DD/YYYY)?

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Under Construction

* 7. What is the targeted date for your facility to become operational (MM/DD/YYYY)?

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Operational

8. What date did your facility become operational (MM/DD/YYYY)?

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Temporary Shut-down

9. What date did your facility temporarily shut-down (MM/DD/YYYY)?

10. What is the targeted date for your facility to re-start operations (MM/DD/YYYY)?

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Ceased Operation

11. What date did your facility cease operations (MM/DD/YYYY)?

12. Please state the reason your facility ceased operations:

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Facility Total Capacity

Instructions: Multi-source food digesters may receive feedstocks in both liquid and solid form. Industry-dedicated digesters may
process feedstocks that are either liquid or solid. In the spaces provided below, please provide the total capacity of your facility for
receiving/processing liquids and/or solid feedstocks.
For the purposes of this survey, total processing capacity is the maximum amount of feedstock an anaerobic digester can accept per
unit time. In this case, the unit of time is one year. Total capacity must be equal to or greater than the combined amount of food waste
and non-food waste processed in any given year.

13. In accordance with the instructions provided above, please provide the total capacity of your facility in
one of the units specified below.
Gallons per year

Tons per year

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Months of Operation

* 14. During year the 2017, how many months was your digester operational?

* 15. During year the 2018, how many months was your digester operational?

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Food-Based Feedstocks

The following questions focus on the amount of food-based feedstocks or food waste that is processed in your digester.
Food-based feedstocks include, but are not limited to:
Fruit/vegetative wastes
Food processing industry waste
Beverage processing industry waste
Food service waste, pre & post-consumer
Retail food waste
Source-separated commercial, institutional or residential organic wastes
Fats, oils and greases (FOG)
Slaughterhouse wastes

* 16. Does your digester accept/process food-based feedstocks?
Yes
No

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Amount of Food Waste Processed in 2017 & 2018

The food-based feedstocks (food waste) received/processed at your facility may be in liquid form, solid form or both. In the spaces
provided below, please provide the total volume of the liquids received/processed in gallons and the total weight of the solids in tons for
the years specified. If you receive/processed all food-based feedstocks in only one form, indicate "0" in the other space.

* 17. What was the total volume of food-based materials received/processed in liquid form at your
facility during the 2017 calendar year? Please express your answer in gallons.

* 18. What was the total weight of food-based materials received/processed in solid form at your facility
during the 2017 calendar year? Please express your answer in tons.

* 19. What was the total volume of food-based materials received/processed in liquid form at your
facility during the 2018 calendar year? Please express your answer in gallons.

* 20. What was the total weight of food-based materials received/processed in solid form at your facility
during the 2018 calendar year? Please express your answer in tons.

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Non-Food-Based Feedstocks

The following questions focus on the amount of non-food-based feedstocks that are processed in your digester.
Non-food-based feedstocks include, but are not limited to:
Mixed yard waste
Crop residues
Manures
Wastewater solids (sludge)
Septage
De-icing fluid
Lab (or Pharma) wastes
Paper mill wastes
Crude glycerin

* 21. Does your facility accept/process non-food-based feedstocks?
Yes
No

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Amount of Non-Food-Based Feedstocks Processed in 2017 & 2018

The non-food-based feedstocks received/processed at your facility may be in liquid form, solid form or both.
In the spaces provided below, please provide the total volume of the liquids received/processed in gallons
and the total weight of the solids received/processed in tons. If you receive all non-food-based feedstocks
in only one form, indicate "0" in the other space.
* 22. What was the total volume of non-food-based materials received/processed in liquid form at your
facility during the 2017 calendar year? Please express your answer in gallons.

* 23. What was the total weight of non-food-based materials received/processed in solid form at your
facility during the 2017 calendar year? Please express your answer in tons.

* 24. What was the total volume of non-food-based materials received/processed in liquid form at your
facility during the 2018 calendar year? Please express your answer in gallons.

* 25. What was the total weight of non-food-based materials received/processed in solid form at your
facility during the 2018 calendar year? Please express your answer in tons.

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Types of Feedstocks Processed

* 26. Have the types of feedstocks received/processed in your digester changed since you last responded to
this survey?
Yes
No
This is my first response to this survey.

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Types of Feedstocks Processed

* 27. Please identify the specific types of feedstocks that are received at/processed in your digester. Check
all that apply.
Beverage processing industry waste
Crop residues
Crude glycerin
De-icing fluid
Fats, oils and greases (FOG)
Food processing industry waste
Food service waste, pre & post-consumer
Fruit/vegetative wastes
Lab (or Pharma) wastes
Landfill leachate
Manures
Mixed yard waste
Paper mill wastes
Retail food waste
Septage
Slaughterhouse wastes
Source-separated commercial, institutional or residential organic wastes
Wastewater solids (sludge)
Other (please specify)

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Tipping Fees

The following questions focus on fees charged for accepting and processing feedstocks at anaerobic digestion facilities (AKA Tipping
Fees).

* 28. Do you collect tipping fees?
Yes
No

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Tipping Fees

* 29. Are you willing to share information about the tipping fees you collect?
Yes
No

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Tipping Fee Revenue

This data is being gathered to analyze revenue potential for the biogas industry. An approximation of revenue collected is acceptable. If
your facility was not operational during any of the years identified below, please indicate “N/A” or “0”.

30. How much revenue did your facility collect in tipping fees in 2017?

31. How much revenue did your facility collect in tipping fees in 2018?

32. If you would like to provide any other relevant or important information related to tipping fees, please do
so below.

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Feedstock Sources

* 33. Have the sources of the feedstocks received/processed in your digester changed since you last
responded to this survey?
Yes
No
This is my first response to this survey.

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters

* 34. Please identify the sources of the feedstocks that are processed at your facility. Check all that apply.
Airports
Biodiesel production
Corporate complex
Farmers markets
Food/beverage processors
Fruit/vegetable farms
Grocery stores/supermarkets
Healthcare
Hospitality
Industrial
Laboratories/pharmaceutical companies
Livestock farms
Municipal/residential
Prisons
Restaurants and food service
Retail stores
Schools
Sports and entertainment venues
Wastewater treatment plants
Other (please specify)

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Pre-Processing Information

* 35. Are pre-processing or de-packaging activities conducted on your feedstocks before they are added to
your digester?
Yes
No

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Pre-Processing Information

36. Do pre-processing /de-packaging activities occur offsite or at your facility?
Offisite
Onsite (at your facility)
Both

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Pre-Processing Information

37. Please identify the pre-packaging or de-packaging activities that are conducted at your facility. Check
all that apply.
Manual or mechanized de-packaging
Screening for debris or sorting
Grinding and/or maceration
Third party processing
Shredding
Heating
pH adjustment
Centrifugal separation
Liquid/solid separation
Other (please specify)

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Digester Operating Parameters

38. Please identify the operating temperature range for your digester.
Mesophilic
Thermophilic
Unheated/Ambient

39. Please indicate if your digester is “wet” or “dry.”
Wet, low-solids system, less than 15% (by volume) solids content.
Dry, high-solids system, greater than 15% (by volume) solids content.

40. Please identify the design that best fits your design type/configuration:
Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR)
Plug-flow
Covered Lagoon
Fixed film
Suspended Media
Percolating Bed
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB)
Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor (ASBR)
Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)
Hybrid/Multi-stage
Other (please specify)

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Product End-Uses - Biogas Volume

It is recognized that the metrics that facilities use to measure biogas production may vary. EPA does not expect you to convert your
measurements. Please provide the average biogas production volume at your facility in one of the units identified below.
Standard Cubic Foot (SCF)

41. For calendar year 2017
SCF per minute (SCFM)
SCF per day (SCFD)
SCF per year (SCFY)
Other

42. For calendar year 2018
SCF per minute (SCFM)
SCF per day (SCFD)
SCF per year (SCFY)
Other

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Product End-Uses - Biogas Location

43. Is the biogas produced at this facility used onsite, sold, or flared? (check all that apply)
Used onsite
Sold
Flared

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Product End-Uses - Biogas

* 44. Please identify how the biogas produced at this facility is used. Check all that apply:
Produce mechanical power
Produce heat and electricity (CHP)
Produce electricity used behind the meter (including net metering)
Produce electricity (sold to grid)
Fuel boilers and furnaces to heat digesters
Fuel boilers and furnaces to heat other spaces
Compressed to vehicle fuels: used for company fleet/personal vehicles
Renewable natural gas (processed in order to inject to pipeline)
Other (please specify)

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Product End-Uses - Biogas Utilization

* 45. Are you able to utilize all of the biogas produced?
Yes
No

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Product End-Uses - Biogas Excess

46. Do you flare excess biogas?
Yes
No

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Product End-Uses - Biogas Purification

* 47. Do you have a gas cleaning system?
Yes
No

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Product End-Uses - Biogas Purification Details

48. What is removed by your gas cleaning system? (select all that apply)
Moisture
Sulfur
Siloxanes
Carbon dioxide
Compressed gas
Hydrogen sulfide
Particulates
OxygenNitrogenVOCs
Nitrogen
VOCs
Other (please specify)

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Product End-Uses - Digestate

49. Do you re-use the solid digestate you produce? (Select all that apply)
Yes, de-watered/dried and land applied
Yes, composted into a reusable or salable product
Yes, processed into animal bedding
Yes, processed into other salable product (e.g., flower pots)
No, landfilled
No, incinerated
Other (please specify)

50. If any digestate was disposed of in landfills or incineratedin 2017, please specify the amount in tons or
gallons (if known):

51. If any digestate was disposed of in landfills or incineratedin 2018, please specify the amount in tons or
gallons (if known):

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Digestate Land Application

* 52. Is the de-watered/dried digestate further treated prior to land application?
Yes
No

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Digestate Land Application Further Processing

53. Please indicate what additional processing occurs and why.

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Digestate Processing

* 54. How do you manage the liquid digestate you produce? (Select all that apply)
Reused as fertilizer via land application
Recirculated through digester
Discharged to a wastewater treatment plant
Other (please specify)

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Digestate Land Application

* 55. Is the liquid digestate further treated prior to land application?
Yes
No

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Digestate Land Application Further Processing

56. Please indicate what additional processing occurs and why.

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Data Tracking Form for Stand-Alone Anaerobic Digesters
Digestate Nutrient Recovery

57. Do you recover nutrients from you digestate?
No
Yes, phosphorous and nitrogen recovery by chemical precipitation (e.g., struvite)
Other (please specify)

Please click DONE to submit your data.

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