Food waste in Serbia has significant but largely unused energy potential. Instead of being dumped in landfills where it emits harmful gases, food waste can be transformed into biogas, which can then be used to produce electricity. Successful examples, such as the system at Belgrade Airport, demonstrate how cooperation between large infrastructure operators, waste management companies, and professional associations can create sustainable energy solutions through clear strategies, logistics, and systemic support.
At Nikola Tesla Airport, operated by the VINCI Group, organic food waste generated by restaurants, employees, and passengers is collected, separated at the source, and handed over to Eso Tron, the largest biodegradable waste management company in Serbia. Eso Tron collects waste from over 4,500 locations weekly and processes it into a homogenized, pasteurized mass ready for biogas production. This approach prevents methane emissions, a greenhouse gas much more harmful than carbon dioxide, which results when food waste decomposes in open landfills.
Currently, around six tons of food waste per month from the airport are processed into biogas, with amounts expected to rise during peak travel seasons and as new catering facilities open.
In Serbia, about 900,000 tons of food waste are produced annually, with more than half ending up in landfills. This represents a missed opportunity for renewable energy production. Many local governments lack proper systems for separate collection of bio-waste, and there is insufficient legal framework requiring waste separation and proper disposal.
Biogas offers an important advantage over solar and wind energy: flexibility. It helps remove waste from the environment while producing electricity that can be generated and supplied when needed. However, infrastructure and coordination need to improve to meet European standards.
Associations like Biogas Serbia are working to raise awareness, educate the public, and promote the idea that organic waste should be seen as a valuable resource rather than a problem. The cooperation of airports, operators like Eso Tron, and professional groups shows that sustainable waste management and renewable energy production are achievable with knowledge, collaboration and systemic efforts.
