Making biogas and biofertilizers from solid waste of alpaca and sheep wool in Arequipa.

The solid waste generated during the production of alpaca and sheep wool currently has no economic value and is landfilled. Prior to this pilot project, Inca Tops reported discarding 4 tons of fiber waste.

By inoculating the fiber waste with native microbial and fungal strains in a dry anaerobic digestion (DAD) reactor, the decomposition of the waste produces biogas with high methane values and biofertilizers with high and diversified mineral content. The pilot project will treat 100 kg of residual fiber per day. 

The innovative source of renewable energy and fertilizers is through the quick and efficient treatment of solid waste generated in the textile industry. The first results of their pilot project showed that 200 liters of concentrated inoculum can degrade more than two tons of waste, which has halved the waste they would otherwise send to landfill.