The natural process of anaerobic digestion consists of the degradation of organic matter by bacteria in the absence of oxygen and this produces methane (which is energy) and fertilizer (digestate). Laboratory tests, conducted by IRSA-CNR - an Italian water research institute, have shown very promising results by obtaining up to 100 litres of methane from 1kg of wet, household waste (the daily amount of waste produced by an average family). Furthermore, feeding the earth with digestate can lead to a reduced use of chemical fertilizers, resulting in environmental benefits by helping to put more organic matter back into in the soil.