Detroit Zoo are investing in the power of zoo poo! The DZS (Detroit Zoological Society) are crowd funding for funds to build an anaerobic digester which will provide the Zoo’s 18,000 square-foot Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex, saving the zoo a massive $70-$80,000 a year in energy costs.
The AD plant is just one of the many sustainability initiatives of the DZS’ “Greenprint”, a strategic plan to improve daily practices and facilities, develop policies and programs and improve “green literacy” in the community. The DZS was honored with the Green Award in 2014 by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
At the end of the process, the digestate will be used to fertilise animal habitats, gardens and public spaces throughout the 125-acre Zoo. A true zero waste initiative!
We may be bias, but we think that Zoos utilising their most readily available resource to create clean, green energy is a brilliant idea that should be considered by Zoos in the UK.
Although several british based Zoos and safari parks send their waste to anaerobic digesters, they do not directly benefit from the waste management in the same way that Detroit Zoo will.
To find out more about the benefits of a biogas plant, click here to view our biogas booklet.
