Commercial food waste recycling

Why should a business recycle their food waste?

There are many public service and commercial businesses who need to cater for employees, customers, visitors, patients and guests. Catering on this scale produces huge amounts of food waste from preparation, plate scrapings and out-of-date food.

This waste is piled into bins which can be unattractive, unhygienic, smelly and attract rodents and insects. The waste then has to be collected at a charge and then dumped at landfill sites where it rots, creating Co2 greenhouse gases during the decomposing process. This is not environmentally friendly, not cost effective and is an outdated solution that needs to be changed.

We can save you money and help the planet

Forget messy bins, disposal costs and Co2 emissions, a Ridan Composter will make all of those a thing of the past as all organic matter including cooked foods, meats and even grass cuttings can be recycled in a clean, hygienic, cost effective way that will benefit your business and the environment.

Be an Eco-friendly business and let others follow!

What is composting?

Composting is the decomposition of biodegradable organic matter, including cooked and raw food waste. Kitchen waste and plate scrapings can all be composted, as can garden waste such as grass clippings and dead leaves. Any bio-degradable matter can be composted.

When the conditions in the Ridan composting machine are correct, microscopic organisms respire and breakdown the matter to produce nutrient rich compost that is perfect for your garden!

How do I use a Ridan food waste composter?

The purpose of the Ridan Pro composter is to aid and enhance the natural process of composting. The Ridan Pro creates an environment that is just right for the composting process to occur. All you have to do is make sure you add the right balance of mixture and give the handle a few turns every day to introduce oxygen to the mix.

Successful composting all depends on getting the right proportions of carbon and nitrogen rich materials.

Nitrogen comes from food waste and green waste, while carbon is supplied by wood.

Too much carbon can cause the materials to be too dry and not break down. Too much nitrogen tends to make the waste go rotten and smelly.

What can be composted?

You can compost all food waste (foods past their sell by date, cuttings, peelings, and plate scrapings) and all garden waste (grass clippings, weeds, cuttings, and horse manure). These green waste products are all nitrogen rich, so you need to balance this out with carbon rich products.

Carbon rich products need to be hard, dry and absorbent materials such as shredded paper, cardboard, dead leaves and straw, however the only carbon source which really works well is wood, as either wood chip, sawdust, wood shavings or wood pellets. These must be added to the composter every time that food waste is added to maintain the right balance.

How do I get the balance of green and brown waste right?

The composting process happens naturally within the Ridan when the balance of green to brown product is correct, a safe bet is half and half which is a safe way to get started, however over time you can adjust this to suit your waste type.

What comes out?

The food waste mixture passes through the Ridan in about two weeks, emerging automatically as the handle is turned but at this stage it hasn’t yet become compost.

The mixture is then placed into one of the Maturation boxes where it continues to compost, improving every day. The compost can be ready to use in as little as 12 weeks, but more time always improves it.

The resulting compost will be rich, moist and full of nutrients produced by the composting micro-organisms, it is far richer than normal soil and a haven for any plant life.

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Which Ridan is Best for Business ?

It depends on the amount of food waste your business is producing, however we typically find at least one Ridan Pro 400 food waste composter will be required. Have a look through the table below to understand which Ridan Food Waste Composter will be right for your business.

Independent advice about food waste recycling

WRAP advise our government about recycling, they have compiled a paper giving advice about the on-site treatment of food waste, it gives a good selection of options.