MANAGE FOOD WASTE DIRECTORY
On-site maceration and dewatering technologies:

Maceration introduction
Maceration technologies grind food waste into a pulp or liquefied form that is suitable for pumping. Such material can then be pumped from a holding tank for transport as a liquid to centralised processing facilities for anaerobic digestion, aerobic composting, or for production of animal feed. The pump out and collection process is similar to collection of grease trap waste.

The viability of this approach is dependent upon the availability of suitable centralised processing facilities that are able to accept such material. Where such centralised processing infrastructure is available this may reduce the cost of waste disposal for some businesses, and increase the potential viability of collecting food waste separately for reprocessing.

Note that in some areas kitchen sink type disposal systems that are connected to the sewer system are sometimes referred to as macerators. Such sewer connected technologies are not listed here as they are not permitted for commercial installation in a number of jurisdictions. You are advised to check with your local water authority before considering such technology.

Dewatering introduction
Food waste can have a moisture content of 75 to 90%. Whilst this water content can be valuable in drier areas, the collection of this water for centralised processing is expensive. For composting, food waste commonly requires mixing with drier materials to enable composting at a moisture content of 50 to 60%.

Effective dewatering of food waste is a goal for resource recovery as it is the high moisture content that creates challenges for handling, composting and vermiculture processing systems. Dewatering of fibrous materials can be achieved via various belt or screw presses, as listed below, that are used for dewatering in general food processing, for abattoir wastes, and some dairy wastes such as dairy shed effluent. Screw presses are commonly used to achieve effluent management requirements in dairy and intensive livestock management systems.

The characteristics of post-consumer food waste are different, and separating water from solids content is difficult because food waste such as fruit or cooked vegetables, pasta, rice, and sauces press through the mesh apertures that is intended to retain the solid material. Separation of water content from such materials using pressure has proven ineffective.

Sewer connected "dewatering" technologies are available that add water to food waste to allow it to be macerated prior to using a fine mesh to subsequently remove moisture. However this is the same principle as rinsing plates over a sink with a strainer and a large proportion of the material and nutrients simply wash down the drain with the potable water that is added to enable maceration and flow of the liquefied material.

No technology is currently known that efficiently reduces the moisture content of mixed post-consumer food waste in an environmentally sensitive manner. Please email the ROU if you have a solution.

Technologies listed for on-site food waste maceration or dewatering:
Fan separator screw press (dewatering) [Australia]
Pulpmaster 3000 (macerator) [Australia]
Submit another technology for listing here

Functional description of the technology (what it does):
The Australian Waste Engineering "Fan Separator" is a screw press that separates liquids from fibrous solids.
Performance benefits claimed of the technology:
Performance of press screws vary, depending on the type of material being processed. Separated solids produced are relatively dry and easier to transport and further process. Throughput of the screw press can be adjusted by altering the amount of moisture retained in the separated solids. For dairy effluent a screw press will recover up to 45% of the solids and has a low power requirement to operate.
Types of food waste able to process:
Abattoir waste, dairy waste, general food processing.
Types of food waste NOT able to process:
Materials that have no fibrous structure.

Inputs/consumables required:
Electricity for drives, hot water for cleaning when required, chemicals for coagulation if required.
Ancillary equipment:
Plumbing or pumping effluent to the screw press; can also be fed via a hopper or conveyor.
Distributor (manufacturer):
Australian Waste Engineering Pty Ltd
1 Kuhl Drive, Port MacDonnell,
South Australia 5291, Australia.
Australian distributor?
as above
Website:
No
Phone:
(08) 8738 2021 (within Australia)
+61 8 8738 2021 (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.

Functional description of the technology (what it does):
The Pulpmaster 3000 converts food waste into a pulp slurry and transfers the pulp slurry to an on-site holding tank. Pulpmaster tankers regularly collect the pulped organic slurry material by pumping out the holding tank and transport it to a centralised facility for reprocessing.
Performance benefits claimed of the technology:
— Reduced waste to landfill and reduced greenhouse gas emissions
— Reduced use of plastic bin liners and associated costs of purchase
— Improved efficiencies with food waste handling in the commercial kitchens
— Improved OHS with manual handling/lifting of waste into dumpster bins
— Less contamination with other recyclable waste such as cardboard and glass
— Reduction in liquid waste leakage from plastic bin liners (reduced slip hazard)
— No need to carry oil waste to outside disposer bin (reduced slip/strain hazard)
— Reduced attraction of insects and rodents in the waste bin storage area
— A likely improvement in labour efficiencies saving time and money
— A reduction in the likelihood of oil and grease entering the sewer system.

Types of food waste able to process: Most liquid and solid food waste, including liquids such as cooking oil, gravy, milk, soup and juices. Note - liquids placed in the machine must not exceed 50 degrees Celsius. Types of food waste NOT able to process: oyster shells, mussel shells and similar.

Model name / No.	Weekly food waste processing capacity (kg/wk)	Approximate dimensions (L x W x H in metres)
Pulpmaster 3000	up to 1000kg per hour	0.68 x 0.67 x 0.95m
Complementary item	Holding tank and plumbing connections

Inputs/consumables required:
Water and electricity.
Additional or ancillary equipment required:
Water plumbing and electricity supply, on-site holding tank, plumbing to tank.
Distributor (manufacturer):
Pulpmaster Australia Pty Ltd
2 Bay Street
Taren Point,
NSW, Australia 2229
Australian distributor?
Local supplier business name
Website:
www.pulpmaster.com.au
Phone:
(02) 9525 5252 (within Australia)
+61 2 9525 5252 (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.

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