Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities of Depackaged Food Waste in Composting
Recently we sat down with our new SG Technical Manager - Service and Sales in Canada, Aaron Osczevski, to discuss composting depackaged food waste with our SG Advanced Composting Technology systems. Here is what he had to say.
Can you elaborate on the specific challenges that depackaged food waste presents for composters?
Aaron: Certainly. Depackaged food waste poses several challenges for composters. It's a highly wet and dense material, requiring a significant amount of bulking agent to achieve the right porosity. However, many sites struggle to bring in enough bulking agents, complicating the process of ensuring proper moisture levels and porosity.
Another challenge is odor. Feedstock like food waste can vary seasonally very much like SSO, in Canada, it is the most consistent feedstock composters can add to their system.
Adding food waste to your stream will certainly add odor to your site, however, I know a lot of sites across North America and Oceania that utilize Sustainable Generation technology with Gore covers to help keep odors at a minimum as well as keeping labor costs low.
What innovative methods or technologies have you seen being utilized to address the issue of depackaged food waste in composting facilities?
Aaron: I have extensive experience using depackaging separator equipment that effectively separates contaminants from food waste, resulting in a clean material that can be easily incorporated into composting systems. Mixing the separated material into our SSO/Yardwaste stream helped maintain moisture levels and minimize contamination in our compost.
Another technology is the Sustainable Generation/GORE cover system. I have extensive experience using SG systems in one of the most extreme climates in North America. I was able to accept food waste year-round and successfully compost it in low temperatures down to -40C and as high as +40C. We dealt with extremes but were still super successful at maintaining Class A quality on all our compost.
In your opinion, what are the potential environmental benefits of diverting depackaged food waste from landfills and incorporating it into the composting process?
Aaron: Diverting depackaged food waste from landfills and composting offers significant environmental benefits, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Anaerobic digestion of food waste in landfills generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting, on the other hand, mitigates these emissions while producing nutrient-rich compost that improves soil health.
How important is a collaboration between different industries and stakeholders in finding comprehensive solutions to the challenge of depackaged food waste?
Aaron: Collaboration among industries and stakeholders is paramount in addressing depackaged food waste. By working together to implement effective waste diversion strategies, we can reduce the burden on landfills and create a more sustainable future.
What role do you believe education and outreach play in addressing depackaged food waste, and how can consumers be empowered to make more sustainable choices?
Aaron: Education is crucial in empowering consumers to make sustainable choices. Providing information about the environmental impact of packaging and food waste encourages consumers to prioritize eco-friendly products and disposal methods.
Looking ahead, what do you see as the key drivers of progress in effectively managing depackaged food waste and creating a more sustainable food system?
Aaron: Sustainable packaging solutions at the pre-consumer level will be essential in reducing food waste and promoting a more sustainable food system. By minimizing packaging waste, we can streamline the composting process and reduce overall environmental impact.
Can you share any success stories or examples of composting facilities effectively handling depackaged food waste, and what lessons can be learned from their experiences?
Aaron: At Loraas, we utilized a separator and an SG/Gore System to process commercial food waste, yielding nutrient-rich material that enhanced our finished compost. This approach simplified operations, improved compost quality, and contributed to overall sustainability goals. The lesson learned is that innovative technologies can play a crucial role in maximizing the benefits of depackaged food waste in composting operations.
Aaron Osczevski
Sustainable Generation Technical Manager - Service and Sales
Aaron boasts over 8 years of experience in the waste and organics industry, serving in various capacities including operator, lead hand, and supervisor. Previously, he held the position of Organics Supervisor at Loraas Disposal North (Waste Connections of Canada), where he managed a 24,000-tonne-per-year GORE facility catering to the Greater Saskatoon area. Aaron specializes in cold weather composting, having operated in temperatures as low as -40°C while maintaining quality standards. He recently joined Sustainable Generation in February 2024 and remains an active member of the Compost Council of Canada, holding a Certified Operator certificate through the CCC. Aaron's notable achievements include obtaining a Project Management certificate, Heavy Equipment Evaluator certification, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alberta.
FAQ's:
What are some of the key challenges that composting facilities face when dealing with depackaged food waste, and how do these challenges impact the composting process? The challenges associated with composting depackaged food waste are multifaceted and include issues such as managing moisture levels and achieving proper porosity. Depackaged food waste tends to be highly wet and dense, requiring a significant amount of bulking agents to ensure optimal composting conditions. However, obtaining sufficient bulking agents can be challenging for many facilities, complicating the process of maintaining the right moisture levels and porosity. Additionally, depackaged food waste may introduce contaminants into the composting stream, which can impact the quality of the final compost and pose regulatory compliance concerns for composting facilities.
How do cold weather conditions, particularly in regions like Canada, affect the composting of depackaged food waste, and what specialized knowledge or techniques are required to address these challenges effectively? In regions with cold climates like Canada, managing depackaged food waste in composting operations during extreme weather conditions presents unique challenges. Cold temperatures can slow down the composting process and may require additional measures to maintain process efficiency. Aaron Osczevski's experience in cold weather composting, including operating in temperatures as low as -40°C, suggests that specialized knowledge and techniques are necessary to ensure quality standards are maintained despite adverse weather conditions. However, specific considerations or best practices for cold-weather composting of depackaged food waste were not explicitly addressed in the provided information.
What role do depackaging separator equipment and other innovative technologies play in ensuring the quality and safety of compost produced from depackaged food waste, and how do they contribute to minimizing contamination in the composting process? Additionally, what factors should composting facilities consider when evaluating the cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability of implementing such technologies? Depackaging separator equipment and other innovative technologies play a crucial role in addressing concerns regarding the quality and safety of compost produced from depackaged food waste. These technologies effectively separate contaminants from food waste, resulting in a clean material that can be easily incorporated into composting systems. By removing contaminants, such as packaging materials, depackaging equipment helps minimize contamination in the composting stream and ensures the quality of the final compost product. However, the implications of using such technologies on the overall cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability of composting operations would depend on various factors, including the initial investment cost, operational efficiency, and potential environmental benefits of diverting depackaged food waste from landfills.