A farmer-operated system for recycling organic wastes
1999
Skjelhaugen, O.J.
To promote recycling of organic wastes to agriculture, a farmer-operated system has been developed to receive waste from about 700 homes. The system is run independently of the normal sewage system and sewage treatment works. The wastes are handled as liquids. Food waste and septic sludge are stored in domestic collection tanks for one to two years duration. After collection, the material is sanitized and stabilized in a thermophilic aerobic reactor. The treated material is stored, prior to spreading on 30-40 ha of suitable farmland during the growing season. The wastes are converted into a hygienic, stable and odour-free liquid product. No nutrients, including ammonia, are lost during transport, processing and storing. The product is suitable for fertilizing cereals and grass. Source control is possible at the individual house level. The processing plant is operated by the farmer who therefore generates an extra income. The margin for operation and spreading is typically NOK 200000 a year. In addition, a similar fee can be generated from transporting the waste. The technology for processing and application has been commercially available since 1997, whilst the technology for source separation and long-term domestic storage is in the prototype stage.
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