Biogas and anaerobic digesters, recently popularised on the radio drama The Archers, utilize old technology to alleviate modern problems of climate change. The basic principle of the technology uses bacteria to break down organic waste producing methane that can be harnessed and used for fuel.

Methane is clean burning and produces no harmful by-products and can be used for cooking and electricity production. By products that are produced can be put back into the earth as a fertiliser on crops.

Sintex Industries, a company based in India, has been in the spotlight recently for claiming to not only alleviate the growing problems of pollution and waste management on the subcontinent but for maintaining that they can profit from animal and human excrement.

According to Evoy & Evoy the technology which is already used widely in India has huge potential to make for cleaner and healthier living conditions for the people. And a need that will become essential when in 2012 the government plans to end open defecation.

Sintex is not the only company out there providing the equipment. Biogas digester production can be found all over and could be the means necessary for those who wish to live off the grid. Justin, on his blog, provides a great diagram of a biogas digester.

Sintex is hoping that their digester really takes off at home and although they are starting to become more popular in the countryside for use on farms, perhaps room can be made for them in our shared gardens and drying greens!