Disposing of food waste repairs the soil

Australian company enrich360 is pioneering the clean and green recycling of food waste and the transformation of that waste into fertiliser and compost under the mantra of "Food.Farm.Future".

Every year, Australians send more than five million tonnes of food waste to landfill and when food goes into landfill, the environment suffers because of the carbon in food waste.

When the carbon in food goes to landfill, micro-organisms break it down producing methane gas.

Methane gas is bad for the climate as it traps significantly more heat than carbon dioxide, and damages the ozone layer.

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Sustainability program enrich360 provides food processors who produce unavoidable food waste like hotels, restaurants and caterers with dehydration equipment, which reduces the volume of that food waste by up to 93 per cent saving on storage space and collections.

The enrich360 dehydrator system, turbocharges the food waste decomposition process.

The Melbourne-based company is rolling out food dehydration machines to operators in the foodservice industry who need to dispose of their food waste in a more efficient and effective way.

That same food waste having been converted into fertiliser or compost is distributed to growers who use the organic nutrients to boost their soil health.

Manny's shows how to do it

MANNY'S Market in Morwell, in the Latrobe Valley district of Victoria has been selling herbs fertilised with enrich360 fertiliser.

John Askew from Manny's has been working with the Verduci Herb Farm with excellent results .

Fertiliser from the enrich360 Program is distributed from the Longford depot to great effect.

"Initial quality has been great. It's a better product. Fullstop. And the chefs we distribute herbs to claim better shelf life," Mr Askew said.

How does it work?

THE enrich360 machine recycles food waste into fertiliser through a process that includes dehydration, sterilisation and volume reduction.

Food waste is produced in the restaurant and is simply put into the machine without any additives and the enrich360 works its magic.

The product is a pellet of fertiliser, 80 to 93pc smaller than the original waste volume.

All food can be put into the machine which means there is significantly reduced waste going to landfill.

The product is distributed to growers who use it to improve the viability of their soil.

How good is the fertiliser?

TESTING laboratory SESL Australia was requested to provide interpretive material outlining the opportunities to use the outputs of enrich360's dehydrated food machines as a fertiliser.

The high nutrient levels in the material shows that it is an organic fertiliser, similar in its nutrient profile to dynamic lifter or blood and bone.

The analyses showed that the enrich360 fertiliser is high in nitrogen and other macro elements with useful levels of trace elements.

It is also very high in organic matter and organic carbon.

SESL senior soil scientist, Declan McDonald said enrich360 is characterised by very high organic matter (94pc).

"High organic matter replaces organic matter lost through tillage and builds soil function. Improving soil function means increasing water and nutrient holding capacities, and improving soil structure, nutrient cycling, nutrient availability, and biological activity," he said.

"Expanding the soil's biological activity with organic inputs can also increase pest and disease suppression through the introduction or encouragement of control organisms."

Farmers gain accreditation

EVERY farmer and grower involved in the enrich360 program, no matter how small their part, is a member of the circular economy.

Once a business is up and running and reaches the accreditation standards, it will be able to undergo a Certification Audit and receive an enrich360 Accreditation.

The enrich360 program is currently available in Victoria and Queensland.

For a free trial and further information: Dean Turner 0499 360 360 or www.enrich360.com.au