Improper disposal of biodegradable food and kitchen waste (bio-waste) from households, restaurants, caterers and retail premises leads not only to environmental pollution, but also to health problems related to infectious diseases. An incredible fact shows that the contribution of food waste emissions to global warming is almost equal to global emissions from road traffic, and every 1000 guests in a typical restaurant generates on average around 200 kilograms of waste. Caring for the environment and efficient waste disposal could be an excellent way of corporate social responsibility behavior in accordance with the goals of the European Union policy and Croatian policy of waste management, respectively reducing it at the source.
In this regard, Croatian Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency published a Public Call for co-financing the purchase of machines to prevent the generation of bio-waste (JP EU-2/2022). The purpose of this call is to mobilize institutions in Croatia to consider applying the priority order of waste management, respectively its reduction at the source, in accordance with the goals of EU and Croatian policies. The call lasts until the end of the calendar year (December 31, 2022), i.e. until the planned funds are exhausted. By purchasing the machines, the amount of biowaste that is disposed of at the landfill is reduced, thus contributing to the preservation of the environment.
Darrer Ltd. from Zagreb recognized the importance of this initiative and decided to offer and place on the Croatian market machines for the decomposition of food waste, and has recently distributed the ORCA digester devices of the Canadian company Minus Global International, as well as the BMD digester devices of the American company Bottle Model Digester LLC. The purchase of the device reduces the amount of this type of waste in landfills, which contributes to efficient environmental management. Such devices were recognized and listed as examples of good practice in the presentation “Circular Economy in Tourism” by the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
BMD and ORCA are innovative aerobic digesters that enable rapid composting of food waste in institutional and commercial conditions. The technology they use simply mimics the natural process of digestion, and it works using the same principles that lead our bodies and other living organisms, creating the perfect thermophilic biological environment for microorganisms to transform food waste into a liquid that can be safely discharged into the sanitary sewer system. This solution creates significant savings for customers by diverting food waste from landfill and reducing emissions associated with waste transportation.
Food waste is decomposed with the help of Biochips solution for microorganisms. All models of digesters are equipped with a built-in scale, so they enable easy monitoring of the weight of each piece of food that is introduced. The data obtained from the measurement is monitored and collected on a portal – a personalized dashboard – which enables real-time data analysis, as well as the creation of customized reports. Darrer Ltd. offers several different models – from small ones for daily processing, to those with a volume of up to 5000 kg. The devices are adaptable and can process the amount of food waste from any kitchen, and given that they come in multiple dimensions, that way can easily fit into kitchens of different sizes.