Adding value to our wastes

By Gary Hatigeva

COULD this be the answer to the ever growing issue of having to get rid of our wastes, even if they recyclable or reusable and they create even more hazardous wastes and environment?

Newly introduced, a recycling system known as the ‘Biogas and Liquid fertiliser production’ that was invented to add value to our everyday wastes, particularly food and other wastes, which includes that of animals.

Also known as the Sup Sup BioDigestor, the recycler is an anaerobic digester that according to experts, treats organic waste such as animal manure, food waste, grass clippings and green garden waste, which also releases methane gas that has been tested and can be used for heating, lighting, cooking.

Left to right – Richard Joyce, Shane Tutua, Korlesh Tutua, Andrew Bulman after a demonstration of how the system works.

Speaking on this simple but effective system, Andrew Bulman of Solbridge Waste Solution, explained that the larger units produce enough gas to run electric generators but the most efficient way is to the use the gas directly for cooking or lighting.

“This gas replaces wood fires that are typically operated in confined spaces and is the cause of respiratory disease within the communities.

“It is mostly the women and children who suffer this problem. If the community is capturing the energy from their waste it allows the persons who collect the wood to spend more time growing food in their gardens for the family,” Mr Bulman explained.

He said the liquid fertiliser that is produced from the Sup Sup BioDigestor has a high nutrient value that can be used directly on the garden plants or mixed into the soil.

This section is where it all starts with a removable bucket where the wastes are desposed for processing.

He added that in most cases, people use plots for gardening for a period of time and move on to another, allowing for the used section to regain nutrients and right minerals in the soils, but with the system, soil in one particular area can be used over and over given that the end products of the biodigester comes into play.

He further added that unlike raw manure, there are no viruses or bacteria as the biodigestor contents undergo a pasteurisation process over the 25 days it is in the digester, and this will greatly improve the food yields for community crops.

This section is where it all starts with a removable bucket where the wastes are desposed for processing.

Meanwhile, Bulman highlighted that for people who don’t have access to electricity, we believe that the Sup Sup BioDigestor that comes in a flat pack can offer an energy source that is an affordable option to wood fires and LPG, something many who have already been part of its test, believe is suitable for the country’s mass rural setting.

“The biodigester can be easily built and operated daily with little training and can be a family operation to produce onsite energy and fertilisers.

Gas produced from the BioDigester System being put to test and the result is as shown in the photo.

“Sup Sup Biodigester is 5 cubic metre set up and can accept up to 20kg of food waste per day while it also produces 2 m3 biogas per day, which is approximately 2 to 3 hours cooking time a day.

“It includes daylight insulations panels, aluminium frame, digester bladder, feed-in chute and disposal tap.

“It has associated appliances, which includes, a stove, scrubber unit, gas light and piping that can be connected directly into your house for cooking,” Bulman further explained.

A sample display of the recycling system

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