Climate Connections A biodigester on Chicago's South Side turns waste into power
Oct 29, 2025
Erica Allen, Co-founder of Green Era Sustainability and CEO of the Urban Growers Collective, shares insights about the groundbreaking biodigester project on Chicago's South Side. She describes how the biodigester converts food waste into energy while capturing harmful emissions. The initiative not only supports local gardens but also provides a unique educational platform for youth. By demonstrating green technology within the community, it fosters environmental awareness and encourages sustainable practices.
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Transforming Polluted Land Into A Campus
- Community advocates transformed nine acres of polluted land into the Green Era campus for urban agriculture and renewable energy.
- Erica Allen described the campus as a place to learn, teach, demonstrate, and generate capital without extracting from people or the environment.
Biodigester Turns Waste Into Useful Energy
- A new anaerobic biodigester captures gases from food waste instead of letting them escape from landfills.
- The system converts captured methane into renewable natural gas and supplies CO2 for industrial uses.
Technology Produces Fertilizer And Community Benefits
- The biodigester produces fertilizer that helps community gardens grow local food.
- This green technology investment also supports the community's future by exposing youth to innovation nearby.