Simply-Green

B iz

waste not want not Reducing the vast stream of waste that we send to landfills each and every day is all about changing mindsets to recognise the value of a material as a resource rather than simply seeing it as a waste. This is certainly true of organic food waste.

O

nly wasted if you actually throw it in the bin,

have seen very little application of these technologies in

organic food 'waste' decomposes in landfills,

South Africa. So it is particularly noteworthy and exciting

causing acidic waste water and greenhouse

to see products from a leading Swedish manufacturer

gases. But food 'waste' is, of course, the perfect raw

Joraform finally being brought onto the local market to

material for making compost to put back into the

solve our waste problems – or maybe more correctly,

ground to enrich the soil. We all should know how to

take advantage of our waste opportunities.

do this on a home scale. But what about restaurants, shopping mall food courts or large apartment

waste has been sold into the overseas market for over a

complexes where the volumes of organic waste cannot

decade now and is state-of-the-art. Manufactured almost

be practically processed in a small compost bin in the

entirely of stainless components, , these units are

back yard? For these larger waste streams, compositing

capable of processing up to 700l per week of organic

units that can process significant volumes in a relatively

waste. This is equivalent to the waste generated by

short time are the name of the game.

approximately 100 households of two to three people.

In developed countries, commercial-scale composting

Clearly suitable for urban housing complexes where

is relatively common place. Driven by both the cost

centralised waste handling facilities are mandatory,

of waste disposal as well as a commitment to waste

the technology is a 'no-brainer' for commercial and

recycling, there is a long history of technology

retail operations such as shopping malls where organic

development and innovation. Not surprisingly, it is the

waste recycling is an obvious target for reducing waste

Swedes, with their strong sustainability ethos, that have

disposal costs.

led the race on industrial compost design. To date we SG 2

The Joraform technology for composting organic

The Joraform is a twin chamber rotating composter

First commercial-scale composter launched in SA that optimises the natural microbe heating process to achieve the fastest composting cycle possible.

Waste is inserted into the hopper and macerated by an integral grinder before being ejected into the process chamber. Once in this first chamber, the waste is aerated and mixed with the incoming fresh waste by a newly-developed mixing technique. This mixing accelerates the composting process by bringing the fresh waste in contact with the partially composted waste, and by oxygenating the compost.

After about two weeks, the mixing mechanism passes the material into the second chamber to isolate it from any further contamination with fresh waste, in order to complete the ripening process. The ripening chamber is, of course, equipped with an independent

mixing system. Having two, independently-controlled chambers ensures the best possible results in the most hygienic conditions. It also means waste can be added every day to the primary chamber, and still be able to mature for two weeks after the last batch was put in.

Of course, the break-down process of forming compost generates heat, which is the other key ingredient to a successful process. Different micro-organisms start working at different temperatures. The composter is well insulated and allows the temperature to rise to as high as 75째C at maximum breaking down. Without insulation it may not be possible to reach such a high temperature, which in turn means that micro-organisms demanding high temperatures for their activity will never start working.

Using an insulated, rotating composter you get a more even heat distribution and an active breaking down process in the entire volume. That is the key to a fast composting process. The nutritious compost has sufficient Potassium and Phosphate for commercial farming.

SG

To read more about this new product visit www.greengenie.co.za, or www.joraform.com

our future? our problem

our solution

no more food waste to landfill composting reduces greeNhouse gasses by 80% The world's leading

Cooked food waste composter Commercial high volume cooked food composting for Restaurants, canteens, hospitals, schools, prisons, etc.

household compOster Grass cuttings, fruit, vegetables, paper, egg shells, tea & coffee... reduces refuse collection by 50%.

For further information email: stuart@greengenie.co.za or go to www.greengenie.co.za

6 weeks later