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| Manure and Food Waste |
The types of anaerobic digesters appropriate for your manure and food waste are:
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RCM has co-digested dozens of different food wastes
in full scale digesters – including thin stillage, fats, oils,
grease, whey, grape juice, milk, paper, paper sludge,
ice cream, fish byproducts, breading, salad dressing,
and waste fruit and vegetables. RCM digesters have
also co-digested grease trap waste and we have
investigated wastes such as source segregated
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and proteinaceous
meat packing wastes.
Why combine food waste with manure?
• Food waste needs a place to go – most is hauled to landfills
• Food waste makes gas – some types make lots of gas
• Food waste can pay tipping fees to a digester instead of a landfill
• Farms have storage and land for nutrient management.
How much gas does food waste make?
• Gas production varies greatly between wastes. Production can be 2 to 10 times greater per
unit volume than manure.
Food Waste Rules:
• Not all food waste is equal.
• Waste means waste to whoever loaded the truck.
• Know your waste source
• Know your trucker
Doing it right:
• A digester should be designed to receive food waste.
• Operation is critical. Digesters don’t like too much food, heat or cold.
• Know what you are putting in the digester and what should happen.
Doing it wrong can result in:
• Upset or dead digester
• Stinky site
• Too much gas
• Not enough gas
• Overfull storage
• Over application of nutrients
The Issues
• Zoning – What do you call a site where waste is being trucked in?
• Permitting – Will it smell, attract vermin and cause odor and flies?
• Storage – Is there enough?
• Nutrient management – Can you manage extra nutrients from food waste?
in full scale digesters – including thin stillage, fats, oils,
grease, whey, grape juice, milk, paper, paper sludge,
ice cream, fish byproducts, breading, salad dressing,
and waste fruit and vegetables. RCM digesters have
also co-digested grease trap waste and we have
investigated wastes such as source segregated
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and proteinaceous
meat packing wastes.
Why combine food waste with manure?
• Food waste needs a place to go – most is hauled to landfills
• Food waste makes gas – some types make lots of gas
• Food waste can pay tipping fees to a digester instead of a landfill
• Farms have storage and land for nutrient management.
How much gas does food waste make?
• Gas production varies greatly between wastes. Production can be 2 to 10 times greater per
unit volume than manure.
Food Waste Rules:
• Not all food waste is equal.
• Waste means waste to whoever loaded the truck.
• Know your waste source
• Know your trucker
Doing it right:
• A digester should be designed to receive food waste.
• Operation is critical. Digesters don’t like too much food, heat or cold.
• Know what you are putting in the digester and what should happen.
Doing it wrong can result in:
• Upset or dead digester
• Stinky site
• Too much gas
• Not enough gas
• Overfull storage
• Over application of nutrients
The Issues
• Zoning – What do you call a site where waste is being trucked in?
• Permitting – Will it smell, attract vermin and cause odor and flies?
• Storage – Is there enough?
• Nutrient management – Can you manage extra nutrients from food waste?
For detailed information, please Contact Us.
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