Council turns seized alcohol into electricity

A UK council is taking a proactive approach to dealing with counterfeit and illegal alcohol by turning it into electricity.

Illegal alcohol being fed into a specialist recycling facility in Sheffield to produce electricity

Tonnes of alcohol seized by Lincolnshire Trading Standards is being recycled to generate electricity at a specialist recycling facility in Sheffield.

The counterfeit liquid is mixed with food stuffs and enzymes to create gas. This gas is then burned to produce electricity, which is then fed into the National Grid.

“While many bottles of alcohol were seized for non-payment of duty, others were seized as they were counterfeit or fake and potentially very dangerous, containing industrial alcohol which is unfit for human consumption”, said Emma Milligan, principal trading standards officer at Lincolnshire County Council.

“With such potential dangers to the public, it’s vital that these products are taken off the streets. I’m glad we can put the counterfeit alcohol to use in a productive way.”

The council has been recycling seized alcohol, and tobacco, in this way for several years, with one tonne of alcohol said to generate enough electricity to light a house for half a day.