This disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for recycling organic waste material into reusable compost. This is attained by shredding or grinding organic waste and mixing the ground waste into a homogeneous mass and conveying the homogeneous mass to a decomposition chamber where it is aerated with recirculating air to decompose into a reusable compost. The apparatus for carrying out the process includes a compact, self-contained housing having a component section and a decomposition chamber. The waste material is ground and mixed in the component section and then conveyed to the decomposition chamber by a conveyor which disperses the homogenous waste longitudinally and laterally within the decomposition chamber. A blower directs aerating air into the decomposition chamber and the air is recirculated back to the blower, where the recirculated air is mixed with a predetermined amount of incoming fresh air, and a portion of the recirculating air is exhausted to atmosphere, the exhausting air being filtered prior to being exhausted. Thereafter, the resulting compost is removed by an auger through a discharge opening of the decomposition chamber.
This disclosure is directed to a method for recycling the packaging crates or cartons in which fruits and vegetables are normally shipped, together with any spoiled or rotten fruits, vegetables, meats and the like into reusable compost by first shredding or grinding the packaging material and thereafter combining such shredded packaging material with the organic waste, e.g. rotten fruits and/or vegetables and the like, which are also shredded to form a homogeneous mixture of a predetermined ratio, and conveying the same to a decomposition chamber where the mixture is further treated and aerated with recirculating air to decompose into a reusable compost.
A mixing drum for a composting toilet has an auger for transporting mixed material from a back end of the mixing drum to the front end of the mixing drum in order to increase the residence time of material mixed in the drum. The auger is enclosed in an auger tube and the auger rotates about an axis which is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis for the mixing drum, about which the mixing drum itself rotates.
A composting system having an area for containing a mass of compostable material, and a weatherproof cover. The cover can be conformable to the mass of compostable material and protects the material from environmental factors. The cover defines a composting environment in which environmental conditions may be controlled during the composting process.
A composting device includes a container that has baffles and an aeration port. The container is supported on an axle, for easy rotation. An internal aeration tube has a screen, and protrudes from the aeration port into the interior of the container, reaching into the mass of the stored organic material. Ambient air enters through the aeration port into the hollow core of the aeration tube, and from there into the container through ventilation openings in the surface of the aeration tube. The aeration tube is further supported by the axle, which runs through two opposite ventilation openings of the aeration tube. A break up bar breaks up the organic material.
An in-vessel composting apparatus for processing food waste and associated organic packaging materials, consisting of a shredder/particle size, and a horizontal drum with three chambers with connecting ports of sequentially increasing diameter, incremental drum rotation, and process control system.
