MANAGE FOOD WASTE DIRECTORY
On-site composting technologies:

Introduction
Aerobic, or hot composting is the process whereby organic materials are pasteurised and microbially transformed under aerobic and thermophilic (hot) conditions to achieve a product that is beneficial for horticultural application. By definition, it is a process that must be carried out under controlled conditions to ensure pasteurisation of all materials so that any human and plant pathogens and weed seeds are destroyed by heat.

Regulations and Standards
Links to relevant NSW regulations are provided on the FAQ's page. The Australian Standard AS4454 for compost products requires that all materials should be subjected to a minimum of 55°C for a minimum continuous period of 3 days (at a minimum of 50% moisture) to ensure thermal destruction of pathogens and plant propagules. Some international standards require 60°C and for materials to be fully enclosed to physically exclude pests or birds. Whilst enclosed and insulated in-vessel systems can guarantee all materials are pasteurised, standards variously specify a minimum of 3 to 5 turns of a compost pile is required to ensure all materials spend time in the hot centre of the pile and are subject to pasteurising temperatures, with 5 turns being recommended for higher risk materials, including food waste.

Link to NSW regulations are provided in the The UK Environment Agency has documented regulations for the treatment requirements for catering wastes (food wastes) containing animal by-products based on a detailed risk assessment. Minimum retention time and temperature parameters are defined for different organics processing systems including for catering waste (food waste) and food processing industry wastes.The risk assessment and treatment requirements are freely available online.

The technologies listed are targeted at installation in commercial food service or food processing enterprises, including sites that house such activities such as the property management and facilities management sector, sport and recreation facilities, resorts and education institutions.

Resources and Tools
The ROU report On-site Composting Technology Options and Process Control Strategies outlines technology options, briefly evaluates their potential performance, and identifies a range of associated management practices.

Technologies listed for on-site composting:
CV Composter [USA]
Earth Tub [USA]
Earth Bin [USA]
HotRot [New Zealand]
Hungry Pig [Australia]
Submit another technology for listing here

Functional description of the technology (what it does):
The CV Composter (Containerized Vessel) is a mobile and modular insuated compost container with a a sophisticated CompTroller (control and monitoring system) that monitors temperature feedback to control the aeration system. This is essentially a batch based system that is filled, and then composts the entire mass of material before being emptied for refilling. A minimum of 2 batch based units are required for continuous loading of food waste, the modular nature of the design allows for additional units to be installed to expand processing capacity.

The stainless steel construction has a 20 year design life. A roll-off truck (usually available from local haulers) is used to move and unload the vessels.
Performance benefits claimed of the technology:
— Energy conservation;
— Odour, voc and ghg control;
— Conserves space.

Types of food waste able to process: All types. Types of food waste NOT able to process: n/a

Inputs/consumables required:
Depends on feedstocks, 3-phase power.
Additional or ancillary equipment required:
Depends on application, mixing is the key to composting, materials must be shredded and mixed correctly prior to loading into the compost container. Mobile feedstock mixers and loading conveyors are available and each can service numerous CV Composter modules. A roll-off truck (usually available from local haulers) is used to move and unload the vessels once composting is complete. Screening equipment for compost product refinement is available.
Distributor (manufacturer):
Engineered Compost Systems (ECS)
4211 24th Ave West, Seattle, WA 98199, USA.
Australian distributor?
No
Website:
www.compostsystems.com
Phone:
206-634-2625 (USA)

The information in this listing has been provided by the distributor of the listed technology and ROU has not assessed or verified information provided or claimed capabilities. Inclusion in this Directory does not represent endorsement or recommendation of then listed product. Refer to full disclaimer for the Directory.

Functional description of the technology (what it does):
The GMT lineup of in-vessel systems (from smallest to largest: the Earth Tub, the Earth Bin, and CCS) are suited to users ranging from small schools to large commercial-scale solid waste treatment facilities. The Earth Tub is the smallest unit and uses a movable auger to mix materials. The auger is mounted in the lid of the vessel, which must be rotated manually to move the auger around the unit.
Performance benefits claimed of the technology:
The Earth Tub has a 500 gallon capacity and can continuously process 50 pounds of material per day (< 25kg). This is essentially a batch based system that is filled, and then composts the entire mass of material before being emptied for refilling. A minimum of 2 batch based units are required for continuous loading of food waste.

It uses a toothed auger to sort, mix, and process material and produces excellent compost with minimal effort in a short period of time. The Earth Tub is highly mobile for its size and is specifically designed to work well with intermodal transportation systems.

Types of food waste able to process: The system is designed to process Kitchen prep waste and plate scrapings. Green garden waste and manures will easily compost in the system. Meats, cheese, and other fatty foods should be kept below 15% of total waste input.

Types of food waste NOT able to process:
Adding large pieces of meat, fats or oils to the system ought to be avoided.

Inputs/consumables required:
The Earth Tub needs water, bulking agents and electricity.
Additional or ancillary equipment required:
The Earth Tub works fine as a standalone unit.
Distributor (manufacturer):
Green Mountain Technologies (GMT)
5350 McDonald Ave, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
Australian distributor?
as above
Website:
www.compostingtechnology.com
Phone:
(206) 319-7102 (USA)

The information in this listing has been provided by the distributor of the listed technology and ROU has not assessed or verified information provided or claimed capabilities. Inclusion in this Directory does not represent endorsement or recommendation of then listed product. Refer to full disclaimer for the Directory.

Functional description of the technology (what it does):
The GMT lineup of in-vessel systems are suited to users ranging from small schools to large commercial-scale solid waste treatment facilities. Uses a movable auger to mix materials which are loaded into one end and discharged from the other.
Performance benefits claimed of the technology:
The Earth Bin uses sophisticated automation to produce a plug flow system that handles over a ton of solid waste per day. It uses a toothed auger to sort, mix, and process material and produces excellent compost with minimal effort in a short period of time.

	Types of food waste able to process: The system is designed to process Kitchen prep waste and plate scrapings. Green garden waste and manures will easily compost in the system. Meats, cheese, and other fatty foods should be kept below 15% of total waste input.

Types of food waste NOT able to process:
Adding large pieces of meat, fats or oils to the system ought to be avoided.

Inputs/consumables required:
The Earth Bin needs water, bulking agents and electricity.
Additional or ancillary equipment required:
The Earth Bin works fine as a standalone unit, but is also designed to easily accommodate a conveyor and shredder.
Distributor (manufacturer):
Green Mountain Technologies or GMT
5350 McDonald Ave, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
Australian distributor?
Green Mountain Technologies or GMT
Website:
www.compostingtechnology.com
Phone:
(206)319-7102 (USA)

The information in this listing has been provided by the distributor of the listed technology and ROU has not assessed or verified information provided or claimed capabilities. Inclusion in this Directory does not represent endorsement or recommendation of then listed product. Refer to full disclaimer for the Directory.

Functional description of the technology (what it does):
HotRot unit is a horizontal continuous flow in-vessel composting unit, with fresh material continuously loaded into the feed end and processed material discharged from the output end, a single unit of suitable size is required. A central tine-bearing shaft runs longitudinally through the u-shaped trough. This shaft is rotated periodically and provides mixing and aids aeration. Aeration is further enhanced by periodic air injection using a low-pressure system mounted external to the hull. Temperature probes along the length of the vessel record temperatures of the material being composted and provide the operator with information sufficient to “tune” the process. Air is continually drawn from the HotRot vessel using a centrifugal fan; this air is subsequently treated through a biofilter for odour control.
Performance benefits claimed of the technology:
— supplied with a contractual OdourFree guarantee;
— Produces no leachate;
— Compact, easy to operate;
— produces a highly mature compost;
— Smaller units are shipped virtually fully assembled and are ideal for on-site treatment at universities, remote work camps, zoos and other institutions.

Types of food waste able to process: All source separated organics including degradable plastics such as PLA. Types of food waste NOT able to process: n/a

Inputs/consumables required:
Electricity only, typically 30kWh/tonne. Bulking agents typically 0.5 tonne per tonne of food waste.
Additional or ancillary equipment required:
— Bin-lifter or feed hopper for loading, shredders for bulking agents/amendments.
— All ancillary equipment and package biofilters can be supplied.
Distributor (manufacturer):
HotRot Organic Solutions (NZ) Ltd
PO Box 4442, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Australian distributor?
HotRot Organic Solutions (NZ) Ltd
Website:
www.hotrotsolutions.com
Phone:
+643 377 8822 (New Zealand)

The information in this listing has been provided by the distributor of the listed technology and ROU has not assessed or verified information provided or claimed capabilities. Inclusion in this Directory does not represent endorsement or recommendation of then listed product. Refer to full disclaimer for the Directory.

Functional description of the technology (what it does):
The Hungry Pig is a vertically oriented, continuous flow compost unit . Food waste is loaded into the top, and all mixing and size reduction occurs inside the stainless steel composting chamber. Fresh waste materials are loaded into the top of the unit directly from collection bins using a bin lift, and processed material is harvested from a hatch the base as required using the mixing mechanisms.

This unit has forced aeration and the automated setting controls periodic mixing and aeration as required based on temperature feedback. As a continuous flow technology, only one unit is required for continuous loading of food waste. If the Hungry Pig is fed correctly, automated operation should be trouble free.

Performance benefits claimed of the technology:
— The unit is insulated to ensure all materials are pasteurized by heat.
— No external shredding or grinding is required which avoids a major source of      odour and pest attraction, and reduces unnecessary clean up effort.
— Automated control program minimises energy consumption.
— Engineered "idiot proof" safety and security features integrated into design.
— Avoided landfilling of organic waste and on-site management reduces      greenhouse gas emissions from landfill and transport.
— On-site management enables control of rapidly increasing waste disposal costs.
— Vertical orientation conserves space.

Types of food waste able to process: All types of food waste. Types of food waste NOT able to process: Recalcitrant materials such as oyster shells that are effectively like stone should be avoided. Inorganic contaminants from food service such as cutlery, crockery, foil and plastics will not damage the unit, but should be avoided for operator safety and product quality.

Inputs/consumables required:
3-phase power. All on-site compost operations need water supply and complementary dry bulking agent to balance the excessively high moisture content of mixed food waste.
Additional or ancillary equipment required:
All on-site compost operations will benefit from some type of compost screening aparatus to sieve the small amount of contaminants out of the finished compost that result from imperfect source separate collection systems (eg. plastics, foil, crockery, cutlery, glass).
Distributor (manufacturer):
See below.
Australian distributor?
Dynamic Sustainability Services
PO Box 6267
UNSW 1466
NSW, Australia
Website:
www.hungrypig.net
Phone:
(02) 9011 2175 (within Australia)
+61 2 9011 2175 (from outside Australia)

The information in this listing has been provided by the distributor of the listed technology and ROU has not assessed or verified information provided or claimed capabilities. Inclusion in this Directory does not represent endorsement or recommendation of then listed product. Refer to full disclaimer for the Directory.

The Manage Food Waste Directory is open for free listing of proven technologies for use by food service and property management enterprises and other organisations to reduce food waste and improve the recovery and reprocessing of food waste for beneficial use.

Please note we do not list technologies that are of a scale suited for household use such as home compost bins or worm farms, nor compost amendments/inoculants.

To list your technology on this Directory, complete and submit the Register Your Technology form.

Functional description of the technology (what it does):
Clear description of what the technology is for and how it works.

Performance benefits claimed of the technology:
— Information content from supplier;
— Information content from supplier;
— Information content from supplier.

Types of materials able to process: Information content from supplier. Types of materials NOT able to process: Information content from supplier

Inputs/consumables required:
Information content from supplier.
Additional or ancillary equipment required:
— Information content from supplier.
— Information content from supplier:
     - Information content from supplier;
     - Information content from supplier.
Distributor (manufacturer):
Supplier business name
Supplier address line 1
Supplier address line 2
Australian distributor?
Local supplier business name
Website:
www.supplierURL.com
Phone:
+61 supplier phone number (Australia)
Supplier international phone number (USA, UK, NZ, EU...)

The information in this listing has been provided by the distributor of the listed technology and ROU has not assessed or verified information provided or claimed capabilities. Inclusion in this Directory does not represent endorsement or recommendation of then listed product. Refer to full disclaimer for the Directory.

Return to Manage Food Waste Directory main page

Go to the FAQ page of the Manage Food Waste Directory

Online form to Register Your Technology on the Manage Food Waste Directory

Return to Recycled Organics Unit home page

Return to top of this page