Dehydrators eat up food waste in aged care homes

It has also provided valuable data that could see more high volume food waste businesses come on board and divert their waste from landfill.

Until the trial started all food waste at Bega's Hillgrove House, Pambula's Imlay House and Acacia Ponds Village, Millingandi, ended up in landfill.

Using FOGO bins was not an option as the bins are collected from the roadside and the amount of potential waste from the three locations made the system unworkable.

The trial involved the use of a dehydrator for kitchen scraps and food waste to reduce the volume of waste and associated odours. More importantly it removes it from landfill by turning it into high-quality organic fertiliser.

Council's waste services manager, Alan Gundrill said the program was a success, with two of the three businesses continuing beyond the trial period.

"We initiated the twelve-month trial with business owners who may have found our FOGO service difficult due to their high output of food waste and limited bin space."

He said food waste mass was reduced by up to 90 per cent.

"This really opens the door for high volume food businesses like aged care facilities, clubs and restaurants to include responsible food waste management as part of their operations and brand."

Kitchen manager of Bega's Hillgrove House, Tammy Prime said the new setup is productive and easy.

"The dehydrator is now an integral part of the kitchen. We can't imagine not having it," Ms Prime said.

The 12-month trial diverted more than 30 tonnes of food waste away from landfill. However despite Acacia Ponds manager, David Lee's enthusiasm for the system, it wasn't suitable for the over 55s village.

The system at Acacia Ponds relied on residents separating their food waste and kitchen scraps and taking them to a special bin next to the dehydrator. Incorrectly sorted waste meant the dehydrator could jam.

"I think it's a brilliant idea and I love the process but it created hours of extra work when it jammed," he said.

Mr Gundrill acknowledged that the trial results showed it suited businesses with pre-existing food waste disposal procedures.

"These businesses can easily adapt through fine tuning processes that are already in place," he said.

Mr Lee agreed saying it would "be brilliant in an environment where meals are made for people and what goes into the dehydrator is controlled by the people who use it".

Council's waste project officer, Rechelle Fisher said the trial shows how investing in innovative technology can boost a brand's environmental credentials while making a very real reduction to food waste in landfill.

"It's a win for the environment because food waste generates harmful greenhouse gases, including methane, which is 26 times more harmful to the earth's atmosphere than CO2.

"Between Hillgrove House and Imlay House, they are projected to keep more than 20 tonnes of food waste away from landfill this year. That's just two businesses; imagine what could be achieved if more adopt this method.

"The trial has given us valuable data to share with business owners who are keen to tackle the food waste problem. With dehydration an option, along with FOGO for Business, and our food donation program, Nourish & Flourish, we can move even closer to our goal of no food in landfill," Ms Fisher said.