Going Circular
2022 AWARD FINALIST
Sponsored by Auckland Council
Sustainably Limited's Soil Food Initiative combines compostable packaging with food waste to create nutrient-rich, high value organic fertiliser.
The process is made possible with the Soil Food Dehydrator. This innovative machine utilises mechanical heating and shredding of food waste and packaging to reduce the moisture content. Simple and effective to use, the Soil Food Dehydrator doesn’t require any additives and reduces the waste input by 10-15% and turns it into a dry, organic biomass. The resulting condensate water is sterile and safe to discharge without further treatment and can be repurposed for grey-water applications.
The process eliminates anaerobic rotting of the waste which would have generated methane and leachate in landfill. Due to the high operating temperature, weeds and seeds are sterilised and pathogens eliminated, making it ready for immediate use as a soil enhancer. The value is returned to the earth, delivering on commitments to Kaitiakitanga.
The company's pilot customers, Te Pae Convention Centre and the Hilton Hotel in Queenstown, have both successfully diverted up to 76% of waste destined for landfill and instead enhanced local gardens.