Consequently WRAP commissioned SLR Consulting Limited (SLR) to undertake a literature review of the available food waste depackaging equipment, to summarise the key information with the aim of providing an aid to potential project developers.
The review provides a set of detailed information to operators on the specifications and capabilities of available technology designed to remove packaging from food waste prior to processing.
The chief aim of the review was to identify suppliers of food waste depackaging equipment capable of separating solid and liquid organic wastes from packaging in order to recover the organic fraction for recycling in anaerobic digestion (AD) or in-vessel composting (IVC).
A spokeswoman for WRAP explained that depackaging technology is important because in enables AD operators and IVC facilities to accept packaged food waste, such as out of date items, from retailers and food manufacturers.
The report summarises information from nine depackaging providers, the majority being German firms, which are:
• Baader
• Ha-Di-Tec
• Komptech
• Kufferath
• Puehler
• Rothenburg
• Sebright
• Sepamatic
• Atritor
Richard Swannell, director of retail and organics at WRAP, said: “Food waste processors have found that recycling packaged food waste has been a problem in the past. However, this report highlights that there is now a wide selection of de-packaging equipment on the market.
“By compiling this information into a simple online format, we hope to encourage IVC and AD operators, and retailers and food manufacturers alike to consider how this technology could benefit them.”
In addition to including detailed information from nine technology providers the review also includes contact details for a number of other depackaging companies and WRAP is inviting other similar companies to get in touch with their details.
The information will be displayed in a downloadable format on WRAP's organics webpages to ensure it is accessible. However the WRAP spokeswoman added: The featuring of particular equipment and companies does not constitute an endorsement by WRAP and WRAP cannot guarantee the performance of the individual equipment.
“The equipment list is not exhaustive and does not claim to cover all relevant products and specifications available on the market, although every effort has been made to ensure completeness,” she added.
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