People Powered Profile: Chris Mallia

Anaerobic Digestion Jobs UK: Investment, Skills, and Feedstock Challenges

Chris Mallia is the Head of Commercial UK at Generate Upcycle, bringing over two decades of management experience, with the last ten years dedicated to the energy sector.

In this conversation with Astute People, Chris shares insight into investment trends, hiring challenges, and the evolving commercial landscape shaping anaerobic digestion jobs UK-wide.

The Industry Seems to Be Ramping Up Investment Again. What’s Your Take?

“There’s certainly a lot of interest and investment coming into the UK AD Market, especially Food Waste AD. Investment companies are seeing there is more to renewable energy than just wind and solar.

“With Food Waste AD you don’t just create renewable energy, you create a natural fertiliser that is spread on land and, of course, you prevent food waste going to landfill by utilising it as the fuel to feed the AD process. You often see investment portfolios that have a renewable energy allocation and it’s great more are becoming involved.

“However, it does create a more competitive market as more food waste AD plants come online, making securing sufficient volumes and quality of feedstock more challenging.

“A few years back, when gas prices were higher and more stable, the budgets for feedstock were more manageable. You could afford to rebate for higher gas yielding food waste as you knew the gas revenue return was good.

“Obviously, every AD company had variable PPAs in place and some have private wire agreements which create a better revenue, but as the older AD plants reach the end of their higher priced offtake agreements and subsidy regimes, it’s clear that we can’t continue with the same feedstock pricing models.

“I expect to see a drive back towards more gate fees as companies look to recover profit margins.

“Many industry players have already started implementing gate fees or reducing rebates. We recently made a similar change, which led to a non-renewal of an existing contract.

“Despite the waste being of good quality, against our pricing model, it had a negative contribution to our gross margin.

“It’s not all doom and gloom! With the introduction of the Simply Recycling Scheme and new reform regarding household food waste collections, the new proposals state that councils in England must make a food waste collection every week by March 2026.

“This will drive further investment in new and existing plants, making for exciting times ahead.”

This aligns with wider guidance from WRAP, which has tracked the UK’s food waste collection reforms closely.

What Roles Are Most in Demand Across Anaerobic Digestion Jobs UK-Wide?

“Project Managers, Plant Managers and High-Level Commercial Managers with at least five years’ experience are in high demand. It can be easy for people to talk their way into roles by using the right industry jargon.

“However, with AD, it really is a specialist industry and as tariff structures change and the industry grows with investment, companies are looking to streamline commercial and operations within their AD business, so seeking more experienced professionals is a must.

“Having experienced staff with proven knowledge is a great advantage. On reflection we are seeing increased demand for candidates with strong commercial food waste experience.

“Some people with only two years in the field are landing senior roles, which is surprising, but when talking to other big players in the industry, more companies now prefer professionals with five or more years’ experience.

“Without proper knowledge of feedstock breakdown and gas output efficiency, plants can run inefficiently, and companies are realising the importance of expertise. Regarding Plant Managers/Project Managers, they need to be highly experienced, as larger AD companies prioritise efficiency.

“But let’s not forget engineering roles, as they are also in high demand. The biggest challenge is finding engineers willing to work in food waste processing.

“It’s not the easiest to stomach. Clearing a blockage on a processed food waste soup line is quite the experience, I can tell you.”

How Does the Working Environment Impact Anaerobic Digestion Jobs UK Recruitment?

“Many people opt for supermarket or processing maintenance jobs, where conditions are cleaner, even if the pay is slightly lower.

“In our industry, you deal with smelly waste — digested food, blood, and other unpleasant materials — which can deter candidates. It’s one of the toughest recruitment challenges for operational roles.

“Absolutely. The AD industry never stops, we run 24hrs a day, 365 days a year. AD is still a growing market and offers individuals continuous growth and stability because, let’s face it, there will always be food waste.

“I always say that education plays a big role. You should take it upon yourself to complete courses and really understand AD.

“If you have the backing of the company you work for, then that’s great. Once you grasp its impact and benefits, you’re probably more likely to stay in the industry.

“When I first entered this industry 11 years ago, I came from the motor trade, where workshop environments were clean. I walked into my first AD site and saw wet meat all over the floor. It was a shock.

“But I quickly saw how the industry was evolving in a positive way and decided to stick with it. AD, whether agri-based or food waste, is a fantastic field for everyone.”

Feedstock Challenges and Long-Term Contracts

“Yes and no really, I suppose it depends on the definition of long term. A big issue is rising feedstock costs.

“Residual waste disposal, even going to EFW, is becoming more expensive. To compensate, AD companies are charging more for packaged food waste processing.

“It’s a balancing act, and managing feedstock supply will be one of the industry’s biggest challenges going forward.

“Long term contracts at fixed rates were once upon a time the way forward, but you will find now, some AD’s may only fix for 12 months due to PPA changes. The role of feedstock managers is more challenging than ever.”

Frequently Asked Questions About Anaerobic Digestion Jobs UK

What experience level is needed for anaerobic digestion jobs UK-wide?
Employers increasingly favour candidates with five or more years’ experience, particularly for Project Manager, Plant Manager and senior commercial roles, though engineering positions remain open to a wider range of backgrounds.

Why are anaerobic digestion jobs UK-wide hard to recruit for in operational roles?
The working environment — dealing with food waste, digestate and unpleasant materials around the clock — puts off some candidates who might otherwise consider similar maintenance or processing roles elsewhere.

Is demand for anaerobic digestion jobs UK-wide likely to grow?
Yes. Rising investment in food waste AD, plus new household food waste collection requirements coming into force across England, are expected to drive further hiring across commercial, operational and engineering roles. See our related profile with Darren Smith on the wider UK AD industry for more context.

Join the Conversation – Share Your Expertise

The AD sector is evolving rapidly, with investment growth matched by operational and recruitment challenges. If you’re exploring anaerobic digestion jobs UK-wide, our wider profile with Biolectric’s Gary Hague offers a farm-level perspective on the same sector, and you can browse current anaerobic digestion vacancies directly.

Looking to hire or explore opportunities in anaerobic digestion? Speak to our specialist team today.