Coffee grounds from some of the UK’s busiest train stations are to be turned into fuel.
Following a trial at London’s Victoria and Waterloo stations, Network Rail has signed an agreement with green energy company bio-bean to recycle coffee grounds at a total of six stations into advanced fuels.
Nearly 700 tonnes of coffee grounds are generated at Euston, King’s Cross, Liverpool Street, Paddington, Victoria and Waterloo stations each year.
This will be converted into 650 tonnes of carbon-neutral biofuels that will be able to generate enough energy to power 1,000 homes for a year.
Network Rail managing director of property David Biggs said: “Millions of cups of coffee are bought in our stations every year and that number is growing as passenger numbers continue to rise.
“This partnership will see the waste from those purchases put to good use, creating biofuels that can be used in vehicles and to heat homes and saving more than 5,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
“It’s good news that our stations are cutting their carbon footprint while also saving passengers and taxpayers money.
“The new solution is cheaper than sending the waste to landfill, which means we can invest more in making the railway better for the four million people who travel by rail each day.”
