WASTE DISPOSAL & RECYCLING
Recycling has become a big part of household waste management. Councils in the UK face more and more challenges in terms of dealing with both household and commercial waste.
With landfills quickly filling up we are asked to segregate our domestic rubbish before it is collected and transported to a waste management facility.
Councils are afraid that many residents who struggle with space for additional recycling bins may throw their rubbish in the bin destined for a landfill.
So what can be done?
Follow the guidelines from your local authority. In Edinburgh, the city council offers a number of recycling options and here are some:
Green wheelie bin for paper and unwanted mail, envelopes, cardboard, drinks cartons, clean plastic bottles with tops, pots, tubs and trays, cans, tins and empty aerosols.
Brown wheelie bin for garden waste.
Blue box for glass bottles and jars but, not light bulbs, glass dishes, broken glass, ceramics and pyrex. They will remove small electrical items such as a hairdryer or toaster, which should be placed on the top or beside the box. Batteries can be uplifted and need to be placed in a separate clear bag again, or beside the box. Clothing, towels, clean sheets and even shoes can be uplifted inside a plastic bag but, not duvets or pillows.
Grey food caddie is used for both cooked and uncooked food such, as beans, pasta, rice, bread, cakes, bakery items, dairy items, eggs, fruit and vegetables including peelings, meat and fish including bones, fast food such as chips or pizza, tea bags, coffee grounds but, no milk or cooking oils.
Grey wheelie bin is for items which are non-recyclable and don't come into any of the above categories.
We can also do further as alternatives to deal with waste or reduce the size and look at keeping food fresher for longer.
COMPOSTING and WASTE DISPOSERS FOR FOOD WASTE
Domestic composting works well in homes that know how to do it and have outside space. A mixture of garden and kitchen waste such as grass clippings, weeds, coffee grounds, lettuce, banana peels can produce an excellent soil improver once composted. There is a bit of an art to composting, however - it is not just a case of heaping up a pile in the garden! The RHS gives great advice on composting. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=444
However, in urban homes with limited space storing food in caddies for collection is problematic and attracts low participation. There are also a number of foods that should not be composted but can be put in a food waste disposer. These include bread, meat bones and cooked rice. While ultimately municipal composting is not usually able to fully recover the potential energy, over 80% of WwTP now have AD , enabling them to recover biogas, phosphates, nitrates and other crucial soil improvers.
Instead of going into the grey food caddie, millions of tonnes of food waste ends up in landfills each year where it emits harmful greenhouse gasses. Instead of going to landfill, food waste can yield valuable biogas and other vital soil nutrients which can be recovered at the wastewater treatment plant. If a food caddie is not an option, using a food waste disposer can keep your kitchen clean and help the environment by diverting food waste from landfill.
However, in urban homes with limited space storing food in caddies for collection is problematic and attracts low participation. There are also a number of foods that should not be composted but can be put in a food waste disposer. These include bread, meat bones and cooked rice. While ultimately municipal composting is not usually able to fully recover the potential energy, over 80% of WwTP now have AD , enabling them to recover biogas, phosphates, nitrates and other crucial soil improvers.
Instead of going into the grey food caddie, millions of tonnes of food waste ends up in landfills each year where it emits harmful greenhouse gasses. Instead of going to landfill, food waste can yield valuable biogas and other vital soil nutrients which can be recovered at the wastewater treatment plant. If a food caddie is not an option, using a food waste disposer can keep your kitchen clean and help the environment by diverting food waste from landfill.
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In 1927 the world's first food waste disposal unit was invented by Wisconsin architect, John W. Hammes. Hammes' first creation was born out of sheet metal and used a small motor. Over the following years he perfected the design and in 1938 the InSinkErator brand was born. For full details, information, videos and FAQs -go to In Sink Erator
MANUAL WASTE COMPACTOR
This simple kitchen bin allows you to compress your waste down, adding more room and compacting the waste to approximately a third of it's size for disposal into your landfill bin. This would help reduce the amount of liners for Council disposal.
The Titan Trash compactor bin is an innovative waste solution with a patented, hygienic compaction system. This allows it to hold up to three times more than a similar-sized household bin which means you empty your bin less often and use fewer liners. Titan also features an anti-tear design that won’t stretch or pinch the liner and a replaceable odour filter to neutralise any unpleasant smells. Volume when empty: 20L or 30L
The Titan Trash compactor bin is an innovative waste solution with a patented, hygienic compaction system. This allows it to hold up to three times more than a similar-sized household bin which means you empty your bin less often and use fewer liners. Titan also features an anti-tear design that won’t stretch or pinch the liner and a replaceable odour filter to neutralise any unpleasant smells. Volume when empty: 20L or 30L
ELECTRIC WASTE COMPACTOR
Although there a number of compactors in the market - we look at Krushr. These compactors are designed for the domestic environment and come in 3 sizes: 300, 400 & 600mm. Easy to operate and quiet in operation you will be surprised just how much recycling you can sort, crush and store in one convenient place. If you don't want to touch your recyclables, the bin lining sold by Krushr is recyclable too.
The smallest 300mm model absorbs 156 litres of everyday, uncrushed recycling, such as plastics, cardboard, drink cans, and offers 85% compaction ratio. With dimensions of just 821(H) x 298(W) x 563(D)mm and adjustable feet, this krushr with fit into most kitchen, replacing a 300mm wide base cupboard.
400mm models absorb 204 litres of recycling. Food packaging waste, plastics, card and paper are compacted and stored in one large compartment alongside a separate storage drawer for compacted drink cans and food tins.
The 600mm model is the largest domestic compactor on the market. Four separate compartments in which to segregate different types of recycling will help to keep your kitchen tidy. It absorbs 234 litres of uncrushed recycling. It comes with a separate compaction facility with storage capacity for over 50 drink cans or food tins and two additional storage drawers for non-crush items such as glass (stores up to 10 wine bottles).
The smallest 300mm model absorbs 156 litres of everyday, uncrushed recycling, such as plastics, cardboard, drink cans, and offers 85% compaction ratio. With dimensions of just 821(H) x 298(W) x 563(D)mm and adjustable feet, this krushr with fit into most kitchen, replacing a 300mm wide base cupboard.
400mm models absorb 204 litres of recycling. Food packaging waste, plastics, card and paper are compacted and stored in one large compartment alongside a separate storage drawer for compacted drink cans and food tins.
The 600mm model is the largest domestic compactor on the market. Four separate compartments in which to segregate different types of recycling will help to keep your kitchen tidy. It absorbs 234 litres of uncrushed recycling. It comes with a separate compaction facility with storage capacity for over 50 drink cans or food tins and two additional storage drawers for non-crush items such as glass (stores up to 10 wine bottles).
FRESHER FOR LONGER
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NEFF have introduced a new FRESH SAFE system in a number of their fridge models. The FRESH SAFE preservation system extends the life of food to reduce waste. Preserving food for up to three times as long as a conventional salad drawer, market-fresh ingredients stay fresh and vibrant for longer.
On other models there is an additional 0DegreeC which features two humidity zones to keep food fresh. Perfect for delicate fruit and herbs and vegetables are all kept beautifully plump and vibrant. |
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See our unique designs at
17 North West Circus Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6SX. Telephone: 0131 226 2255 9 Rosebery Place, Gullane, EH31 2AN. Telephone: 01620 842741 |
