Waste Management-Two Main Processes Used to Recycle Food Waste
Waste management is a major concern in our country, although many places have started setting up their own compost units and management systems. We can reduce the waste output in our homes by a considerable margin if we install decomposing units of our own.
The main waste in residential areas are that of food waste and this can be treated and managed quite effectively without polluting our surroundings through organic recycling.
There are two main processes in organic recycling:
- In-vessel composting (IVC)
- Anaerobic digestion (AD)
Let’s take a broad look at both these processes.
In-Vessel Composting
Composting puts together your organic waste in a moisture-laden, warm environment with microbes that facilitate the decomposing. This procedure mixes your food waste with the garden waste and then shredding the mix to tiny pieces so that there is increased surface area for microbial action.
The shredded mix is enclosed in a system with oxygen and the whole batch is heated up to 70 degrees Celsius and kept like that for two to four weeks. This way the heat kills off harmful pathogens and the level of beneficial microbes and moisture level is carefully regulated.
After the stipulated time period, the mix is taken out of the system and left outside in piles to aid further composing. It takes several weeks for the pile to break down and mature, after which the residue is screened to weed out any large clumps or contaminants present.
The resulting compound is an excellent, nutrient-rich fertiliser and you can use it for your garden. It improves your soil constituency and ensures healthy plant growth as the fertiliser doesn’t contain any synthetic chemicals.
Anaerobic Digestion
This is so named because the process takes place in the absence of oxygen. Micro-organisms are used to break down the waste particles to generate useful output like biogas, which is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide.
Food waste, animal manure, slurries and energy crops are together mixed and placed in an enclosed system that is devoid of oxygen. The system is heated to a high temperature to kill of potential pathogens and to regulate the moisture level.
As the waste products break down, it gives out biogas which can be tapped out through another pipe and used for household purposes. Biogas is extensively used to produce heat, electricity and transport fuels.
Apart from the methane produced, we get a residue that is rich in nutrients and can be used as a bio-fertiliser.
