What BioteCH4 does

BioteCH4 is the leading anaerobic digestion (AD) operator in the United Kingdom, operating a network of six wholly-owned AD facilities (Hemswell Biogas, R100 Energy, Holme Bioenergy, Changing Waste, Thornfield Energy, Local Generation) that collectively process over 600,000 tonnes of food waste annually. The company's core technology is a multi-stage anaerobic digestion process — enzymatic hydrolysis, pasteurisation at 70°C for one hour, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis over approximately 30 days — that converts organic food waste into biogas (methane), renewable electricity via hydrogen-ready combined heat and power (CHP) plants, and PAS110-approved nutrient-rich biofertiliser (digestate) distributed to local farmers. Recent infrastructure investments include 1.2MW hydrogen-ready CHP plants and 1MW battery energy storage systems (BESS) at Holme Bioenergy and R100 Energy sites via a partnership with Edina.

The company generates revenue across four streams: (1) gate fees charged to local authorities and commercial businesses for food waste collection and processing, (2) sales of biogas/renewable energy via grid injection or electricity sales (including 3.6MW direct supply to Clean Tech UK's recycling factory), (3) direct renewable power supply to nearby businesses, and (4) biofertiliser sales to agricultural end-users. BioteCH4 serves two primary customer segments: UK local authorities (Lincolnshire, Suffolk, Staffordshire County Councils and constituent district/borough councils) seeking to comply with the government-mandated Simpler Recycling Scheme requiring weekly household food waste collections from March 2026, and commercial sector clients including food manufacturers, hospitality businesses, retailers, pet food producers (Butternut Box), and coffee pod recyclers (Podback). Distribution is direct via competitive tender processes for local authorities and direct enterprise sales for commercial customers, supported by an in-house collection fleet.

BioteCH4 is a private limited company registered in England and Wales (Reg No 10661698) and part of BioteCH4 Group, a diversified conglomerate spanning engineering and construction, food waste management, and commodity trading. Leadership transitioned in October 2024 with Christer Stoyell succeeding founder Neil Hunter as CEO; the board comprises Marc Bolland (Chair), Marina Nitsa Viergutz, Alexander Maddan, and Chris Chambers. The company holds extensive regulatory certifications including PAS110, ISCC, APHA, EA Environmental Permits, and ISO 9001/14001/50001, alongside CHAS accreditation and Waste Carriers Licences across its sites.

Name

BioteCH4

Legal name

BioteCH4

Website

https://biotech4.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

BioteCH4 is the UK's leading anaerobic digestion operator, running six facilities that process over 600,000 tonnes of food waste annually into renewable biogas, electricity, and biofertiliser. It serves UK local authorities implementing mandatory food waste collections and commercial food manufacturers, retailers, and waste producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waste Management Services

NAICS

Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators (562213)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Biogas Plants (Agricultural, Industrial & Municipal) (EUAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) & Biogas/RNG Production (Organics Feedstocks) (BPALAEAC), Anaerobic Digestion (Wet/Dry AD) & Biogas Production (EUAIAEAD), Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Services (Donation, Animal Feed, Source Reduction Programs) (EUAIAEAH), Biogas/RNG Plant Development, EPC & Project Delivery (EUAAAEAH), Digestate Processing, Nutrient Recovery & Fertilizer Products (Struvite, Ammonia, Compost) (EUAAAEAL)

Keywords

• Anaerobic digestion services
• Food waste recycling
• Biogas generation
• Biofertiliser production
• Waste management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gainsborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Food Waste Processing Fees: Charges local authorities and commercial businesses for collection and processing of food waste through anaerobic digestion facilities.
2. Biogas/ Renewable Energy Sales: Methane generated is purified to biogas and either injected into the national gas grid or converted to electricity through CHP units for sale to the grid or direct supply to businesses.
3. Direct Power Supply to Businesses: Supplies renewable green power directly to nearby businesses, such as the 3.6 MW supplied to Clean Tech UK's recycling factory.
4. Biofertiliser (Digestate) Sales: Nutrient-rich digestate by-product is sold to local farmers for application on agricultural land during spreading season.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BioteCH4 operates a network of six anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities across the UK that collect, transport, and process food waste, waste cooking oils and fats, DAF sludge, and Category 3 animal by-products into renewable biogas, electricity (via CHP), and PAS110-approved biofertiliser (digestate). The company serves UK local authorities and commercial businesses, processing over 600,000 tonnes of food waste annually, with associated direct power supply partnerships to nearby industrial customers.

Product overview

BioteCH4 is the leading Anaerobic Digestion (AD) operator in the UK, operating a network of six AD facilities across the country that process over 600,000 tonnes of food waste annually. The company offers a comprehensive suite of food waste recycling services including Commercial Food Waste Recycling, Local Authority Food Waste Services, Oils and Fats Recycling, DAF Sludge Disposal, and Category 3 Animal By-Products Disposal. BioteCH4 provides sustainable solutions through anaerobic digestion that transforms food waste into renewable biogas/biomethane, electricity via Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, and nutrient-rich biofertiliser (digestate). The company supports local authorities implementing the UK Government's Simpler Recycling Scheme with mandatory weekly food waste collections, and maintains strategic partnerships including Hemswell Biogas (3.6MW renewable power to Clean Tech UK), Podback (coffee grounds recycling), and Butternut Box (pet food waste digestion). The infrastructure includes hydrogen-ready CHP plants and battery energy storage systems at multiple sites, with recent investments in Edina hybrid energy solutions at Holme Bioenergy and R100 Energy sites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Food Waste Recycling Collection and anaerobic digestion processing of commercial food waste from food manufacturers, hospitality businesses, retailers, and food distribution companies. Converts food waste into renewable biogas and biofertiliser.
• Local Authority Food Waste Services Weekly household and commercial food waste collection and processing services for UK local authorities, supporting compliance with the UK Government's Simpler Recycling Scheme mandating weekly food waste collections from March 2026.
• Oils and Fats Recycling Collection and recycling of waste cooking oils and fats for conversion into biodiesel, preventing fatberg formation in sewer systems and supporting renewable fuel production.
• DAF Sludge Disposal Dissolved Air Floatation sludge disposal service for removing fats, oils, and greases from wastewater to prevent environmental contamination.
• Category 3 Animal By-Products Disposal Safe disposal of Category 3 animal by-products (low risk) through anaerobic digestion, compliant with APHA regulations. Also has capability for specific Category 2 animal by-products.
• Confidential Food Waste Disposal Quick turnaround confidential disposal service for businesses requiring safe destruction of food products and packaging, including witness services and pallet collection.
• Biofertiliser (Digestate) Nutrient-rich digestate produced as a by-product of anaerobic digestion, sold as sustainable PAS110-approved biofertiliser for application on agricultural land during spreading season.

Quantifiable outcome

• Processes over 600,000 tonnes of food waste annually, generating enough energy to power 30,000+ homes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lincolnshire County CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024BioteCH4 secured contract in 2024 to support Lincolnshire County Council's food waste recycling rollout. Provides workshops for council officers and members, support at events like Lincolnshire Show, and processing of West Lindsey District Council and Boston Borough Council commercial food waste deliveries.
• Butternut BoxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Fresh dog food manufacturer partnered with Hemswell Biogas for waste management solutions. Hemswell Biogas is located 20 miles from Butternut Box's production facility. Partnership provides scalable solution with data portal access for tracking waste in real time.
• Wardell ArmstrongcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2011Wardell Armstrong provides planning and regulatory consultancy services to ensure BioteCH4's development plans meet regulatory, legislative and best practice requirements. Since 2011, they have supported 19 planning applications, plant capacity increases, and gas to grid plant introductions. Ongoing partnership supporting business growth.
• EdinacoreTechnology or IntegrationEdina is a distributed energy solutions provider for CHP and battery energy storage systems. They supplied and installed two hydrogen-ready Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants rated at 1.2MW electrical output each, along with a 1MW 1-hour duration battery energy storage system (BESS) for BioteCH4's Holme Bioenergy and R100 Energy sites. Partnership enables transition from diesel power generation to sustainable gas CHP.
• Clean Tech UK LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHemswell Biogas (part of BioteCH4 Group) established a power connection supplying Clean Tech's recycling factory with up to 3.6 MW of renewable green power. Clean Tech operates the UK's largest post-consumer bottle reprocessing plant. Partnership provides circular economy solution.
• PodbackcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPodback is the UK's coffee pod recycling service. BioteCH4 processes used coffee grounds from plastic pods at their Changing Waste and R100 Energy sites. In 2023, processed 499 tonnes of coffee waste generating 298 MWh of energy.
• North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBioteCH4 collaborated with NELC to trial food waste collection services. The trial was so successful that the council decided to extend the service to more homes.
• WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRAP is cited as the source for UK food waste statistics and operates initiatives like Love Food Hate Waste and Guardians of Grub that BioteCH4 participates in and references.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Anaergia: Global AD and resource recovery technology provider with UK operations. Provides AD plant technology, biogas upgrading, and organic waste processing solutions adjacent to BioteCH4's plant operations.
• Biffa plc: UK-listed integrated waste management company with municipal collection contracts and organic waste processing capabilities. Direct competitor for local authority food waste tenders leveraging national collection fleet.
• Suez Recycling and Recovery UK: Large UK waste management and recycling operator with AD capacity and integrated collection infrastructure. Competes for local authority food waste contracts under the Simpler Recycling Scheme with broader service portfolio.
• FCC Environment: UK waste management operator (part of FCC Environment Group) providing collection, recycling, and treatment including AD/composting. Competes for county council food waste contracts and commercial organic waste volumes.
• Veolia Environmental Services UK: Major UK waste management operator with broad recycling, composting, and AD capabilities across municipal and commercial streams. Competes for county council food waste tenders and has substantially larger collection logistics and balance sheet.

Direct peers

• Clearfleau: UK-based specialist in on-site and distributed anaerobic digestion solutions for food and beverage manufacturers. Directly competes for industrial food waste processing contracts and adjacent to BioteCH4's commercial food waste offering.
• Severn Trent Green Power: UK food waste anaerobic digestion operator and BioteCH4's most direct comparable — operates multiple AD sites processing food waste into biogas and biofertiliser. Newly appointed BioteCH4 CEO Christer Stoyell previously ran STGP's food waste AD growth, underscoring the operational and strategic overlap.
• ReFood (SARIA Group): UK AD operator part of the SARIA Group, processing commercial and food industry waste via anaerobic digestion to produce biomethane and biofertiliser. Direct competitor for commercial food waste volumes and for UK county council AD contracts.

Others

• Adler & Allan (Pennine Group): UK environmental services group providing waste management, oils and fats recycling, and DAF sludge disposal — overlapping with BioteCH4's oils/fats and DAF sludge service lines rather than core AD.

Emerging players

• Monsal: UK specialist in anaerobic digestion technology and plant operations for water utilities and industrial waste streams. Niche competitor with overlapping AD expertise but smaller commercial food waste footprint than BioteCH4.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Biote_CH4
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxfV8_2ZARpmK1sfgC_AxcA
• Facebookfacebook.com/BioteCH4Group
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biotech4

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BioteCH4