GaiaRecycle Releases Results of Food Waste Pilot Project at Wake Forest University

Nov. 30, 2010 - PRLog -- PALO ALTO, CA—GaiaRecycle™, LLC, an industry-leading global provider of organic waste recycling systems, today announced the results of a pilot project conducted at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC which substantiated GaiaRecycle’s functionality, performance and operating procedures for the onsite processing of food scraps and other organic waste.

“During our evaluation, the GaiaRecycle G-200H system met the performance expectations that were originally described to us,” said Dedee DeLongpre Johnston, Director of Sustainability at Wake Forest University (www.wfu.edu). “Mixed feedstock, including seafood shells, small bones and bio-compostables from our campus dining hall, were macerated and dehydrated with good results, and with a reduction in both weight and volume.”

The Wake Forest University Department of Biology conducted an analysis of the by-product from food waste processed using the GaiaRecycle machine. Their study began with determining the nutrient content of various food waste samples in order to establish the best application for the discharged output material at the university as well as the community in Winston-Salem.

After an analysis by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) Agronomic Division, the data indicated that the by-product material discharged from the GaiaRecycle system contained a significant amount of valuable nutrients that can be utilized in order to prevent all of the university’s leftover food from being discarded into landfills.  Additionally, the GaiaRecycle by-product material was incorporated easily into the campus compost pile.

GaiaRecycle By-product Suitable for Composting:
The GaiaRecycle system’s output by-product was analyzed for its value as a fertilizer by comparing it to manure and composted yard waste. Individual samples of a variety of mixed organic food waste ranged in the primary macronutrient contents of fertilizer including nitrogen 6.5-18 (lbs/ton), phosphorous 3-9 (lbs/ton), and potassium 12-49 (lbs/ton). The dehydrated food waste from GaiaRecycle was very similar in elemental content to manure commonly used as a fertilizer in gardens and commercial farming. Conclusions of the study indicate that after composting is completed to decompose and normalize the mixed food waste by-product from the GaiaRecycle system, the material would definitely be suitable for use as a fertilizer substitute. “This could provide Wake Forest University with a cheaper alternative to purchasing fertilizer for the campus,” said Johnston.  

GaiaRecycle’s “turn-key” systems feature safe, simple push-button operations and automated controls including built-in temperature and moisture sensors for robust operations and a hassle-free user experience. No microorganisms, enzymes, water or other additives are required during processing. GaiaRecycle’s patented “double helix” shredder and blade technology accelerates the organic decomposition process based on drying, sterilizing and grinding food scraps and organic waste. During its 8 hours processing cycle, food waste weight and volume are reduced by up to 90 percent. GaiaRecycle’s proprietary six-step deodorizer process removes odors, and the resulting output material from the processed food waste is a sterilized, easy-to-handle, compostable soil amendment.

GaiaRecycle has a significant level of experience and technological excellence in food waste recycling, and a wide range of modular models for processing almost any level of food and organic waste with consistent and reliable performance. GaiaRecycle’s modular systems range from processing capacities of 66 lbs per day to two tons per day for small-volume and mid-sized users, and up to 100+ tons per day for large organic waste recycling plants.

About GaiaRecycle, LLC
Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, GaiaRecycle, LLC (www.gaiarecycle.com) provides innovative food/organic waste recycling and animal oil extraction solutions to U.S. industries including food service providers, food retailers, food producers, livestock processing plants and compost facilities. GaiaRecycle systems process a wide variety of materials including mixed food scraps, poultry bones and liquids without causing jamming or downtime. GaiaRecycle utilizes patented technology developed by Gaia Corporation in Korea that has been implemented in its organic waste recycling systems and deployed in a wide range of commercial and industrial applications in over eight countries since 1992.

Media Contact:
Pattie Adams, GaiaRecycle, LLC
(650) 585-4416
padams@gaiarecycle.com
www.gaiarecycle.com

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GaiaRecycle organic waste recycling systems, from 66 lbs/day to 2 tons/day, accelerates organic decomposition based on drying, sterilizing and grinding food scraps and organic waste. In only 8-11 hours, waste volume and weight are reduced by up to 90%.