We make organic fertilizers with our own hands. Experience of a housewife - EcoTechnica. The easiest idea for recycling organic waste! Recycling and use of waste in the household

12.03.2020

For seven years in a row, Antonina Tarasova, a resident of Chernihiv, and her children - son Maxim and daughter Alena - have not thrown food leftovers into the trash. Thanks to the unique container for food waste fermentation, or, more simply, a plastic bucket with a faucet, they get useful fertilizer from food leftovers. If most people became interested in such biotechnologies, and if everyone had such a mini-factory for the production of compost in their kitchen, then, according to Antonina Nikolaevna, we would not only be fairly enriched, but also heal the planet. In addition, they would teach this to their children, who would later take care of the world around them and pass on the experience to the next generations.

We recently visited Antonina Tarasova, a social activist and author of many environmental projects, and saw with our own eyes how a woman uses a container for fermenting food waste, and also heard a lot of positive things about using this wonderful installation.

“The container consists of a fifteen-liter cylinder, the bottom of which is raised ten centimeters,” says Antonina. - There is a tap in the wall on one side of the bucket. A special grille is installed in the middle, as well as two covers - internal and external.

In a regular plastic trash bag, I make holes with a fork through which the liquid will drain to the bottom. I fill the bag with food processor shredded waste. It can be a peel from a melon, watermelon, potato peelings, bones from apples and pears, the remains of other fruits and vegetables. Among the organic waste suitable for processing are the remains of bakery products, flour, cereals and cereals, bran, soaked paper and cardboard, sawdust of deciduous trees, residues from the processing of meat and fish.

Do not put bones and scales in the bag. Egg shells are also not fermented, but they can be used as fertilizer. Then I add a special tool that I buy in advance. I tightly close the inner lid and press it down with a large stone. Then I close the bucket with another lid and put the container on the floor. Thanks to bacteria, yeasts and fungi that process organic matter, there is no unpleasant odor,” the woman explains.

According to Antonina Tarasova, the container provides two types of fertilizer: compost, which can be stored in the basement, and liquid, which is collected in plastic bottles.

“The liquid formed after the processing of food waste is very valuable,” the hostess continues. - Once or twice a week, it can be watered indoor. To do this, you need to make a special solution: one teaspoon is enough for ten liters of non-chlorinated water. We also use this liquid in the country, we process the beds. Helps organics fight fat deposits and lime on the walls of the sink, bathtub and toilet bowl.

I also use the solution in the toilet on the plot in the village. I just pour 250 ml of the product into the cesspool, and the smell disappears after a week, and after three months, fertilizer is formed there, which can then be used in gardening. The land, which I water with organic matter, becomes loosened, and subsequently earthworms willingly settle there for permanent residence. The soil enriched with liquid from the container gives a much better harvest of vegetables and fruits. And we get all this at almost no cost!”

For two hours, the hostess talked about the disposal of organic residues at home, that only microorganisms can recycle garbage and not harm nature.

“Microbes and plants are the main participants in the food chain, because they close its extreme links,” explains Antonina. Everything starts with plants. Only they form organic substances that are repeatedly transformed and serve as food and building material for all forms of life.

A few decades ago, the word "biotechnology" was associated with sterile cleanliness, various complex devices, highly qualified employees, and even state secrets. At that time, few people thought that biotechnology is one of the manifestations of various forms of life. This technology is “bio” because living microorganisms work here: bacteria, fungi and yeast. They work not for remuneration (no one has yet thought of paying a salary to microbes), but because that is how they are arranged.

People simply do not think about how much organic matter they throw away, - continues Antonina Tarasova. - Having visited the landfill beyond Masanakh, having seen real heaps of garbage and flocks of crows that are prowling in search of food, having felt an unbearably stable and pungent smell hovering several kilometers from that place, I could not calm down for a long time. We are destroying ourselves! Something needs to be done about this!”

The woman believes that if such a device were used in every home, the ecological situation could be corrected.

“Thanks to the containers, a family of three or four people can receive half a ton of organic fertilizer per year, which is five to fifteen times more effective than humus,” says Antonina. - Recycled food waste instead of a landfill would fall into vegetable gardens or flower beds near high-rise buildings. In the bucket, organic residues do not rot, but are processed with the help of effective microorganisms.

Within seven to ten days, organic matter can be used in crop production, horticulture, for the production of fertilizers, and wastewater treatment. For example, Japan has a long-standing program to clean up the Inland Sea of Japan. In this country, containers are used by almost four million families, and in South Korea, only in one of the districts of the city of Busan - more than two million people. There is even a movement in the US that promotes the use of such installations in schools, businesses and catering establishments.”

Disposer

Waste disposer under the sink

The easiest way to recycle organic waste in an apartment is to install a disposer. The principle of operation is as follows: the device is installed under the sink, and every time when it is necessary to process a new portion of waste, you need to throw them into the drain hole, turn on cold water and the dispenser itself. After processed food enters the sewer without an unpleasant odor and the risk of clogging pipes.

The chopper is quite omnivorous: you can load all organic remains into it, even medium-sized bones, eggshells, tea bags (only the bag itself, without thread), but large bones and inorganic debris (films, plastic bags) should not be thrown into the device. The fact is that the chopper does not work by cutting food with the help of blades, like, for example, a blender, but grinds it into a liquid mass. In addition, it is better not to use household chemicals containing alkali and chlorine, manufacturers say. The American company InSinkErator has been the market leader since its inception.

Composters

ZERA Food Recycler

Full processing cycle per day

The company has developed a new kitchen appliance that will not only reduce daily food waste, but also turn it into fertilizer. The container holds about eight kilograms of organic matter, which are first crushed, then mixed and, under the influence of oxygen, moisture, heat and a special composition of plant origin (coconut shell and soda), are processed into compost - the whole process takes 24 hours. If you let the finished mass brew for about two more weeks, you can get the perfect fertilizer for your plants and even the whole garden.

While the composter is not on sale. Developers needed the funds to launch ZERA on the Indiegogo platform (over $550,000 already raised). They also promise that the device can be controlled remotely using a mobile application.

FoodCycler FC-30

Miniature food processing helper

Food Cycle Science has released a composter that holds a kilogram of garbage and is suitable for even the smallest kitchen. The principle of operation is similar to that of other composters - it processes organic waste, but it copes with this much faster than many similar devices. All you have to do is put leftover food in the FoodCycler and voila, after three hours you have a great dry fertilizer. Even if the compost as such is not needed, the resulting mass does not have any unpleasant odors, so throwing it in the trash can get rid of this unpleasant nuance. The gadget also has a removable bucket that can be loaded into the dishwasher. On the official website, delivery is available to the US, Canada, UK and Germany.

Nature Mill Pro

Dry and liquid fertilizer

In NatureMill Pro, food waste is loaded into the top of the device, and the resulting mass must be taken from the bottom. The output device gives two types of compost: liquid (it is convenient to water the plants) and pressed residue. When the indicator lights up, you can add a new portion to the top tray. The built-in carbon filter eliminates unpleasant odors (it turns out soft and organic), and the energy released during processing destroys pathogenic substances and prevents seeds from germinating. The process of complete processing takes 10 days. With the help of such a composter, up to 55 kg of food waste can be processed per month. It is convenient to store the device both in the apartment and outside the city - in the house or on the street, even in snow, rain or frost.

Vermicomposters

Worm Cafe

Worm farm at home

This method of waste processing is more suitable for suburban areas, but there are also those who place vermicomposters in the apartment. The bottom line is that they do not work at the expense of electricity, but at the expense of special worms, which process waste. Worms eat not only food waste, but also dust from a vacuum cleaner, hair, animal hair, newspapers, packaging cardboard, such as eggs or milk. Vermicomposters are a multi-level structure: garbage is placed in the first tray, and when the worms eat it, the second one is placed on top - with a special bottom into which a new portion of waste is placed, then a third tray must be installed and then the process is repeated. The output is 100% natural biohumus. The disadvantage of this method: often you have to grind food before sending it to the worms. It is difficult for them to cope with large or very hard food. Also, if used improperly, small midges or mold can start. That is why it is better to put such a container at their summer cottage.

The Australian company, in addition, has several more models of vermicomposters that generally work on the same principle. Buying vermicomposters from this and other companies is quite simple: they are sold in almost all gardening stores. Worms (well, you never know, suddenly ran out) you can

Who doesn't dream of having a stable income, but not spending most of their time at work and not being tied to the office 5 days a week? Recently, more and more people are thinking about organization, one of the most popular ideas is plastic recycling at home. With proper organization, such production will not only quickly return the invested money, but also provide a steady income.

Business pros and cons

Before embarking on the implementation of this idea, it is necessary not only to draw up a business plan, but also to analyze whether such production is really profitable.

Since almost every major city and regional villages are littered with all kinds of garbage, it is easy to guess that there will be no problems finding raw materials when opening such a business.

Moreover, in most localities, the administration is ready to help with the opening of such a business. And also the advantage of this idea is that at present there is practically no competition in this area, which significantly increases the chances of further success.

If we talk about the shortcomings of plastic recycling at home, then they should include the following points:

To design and register a mini-factory, you will need to issue a large number of various documents and permits. On average, it takes about 5-7 months to resolve all legal issues.
In some areas and regions, at the initial stage, there may be difficulties with the supply of raw materials.
Difficulty in finding manufacturers to sell finished products.
Direct dependence of the amount of the finished product on manual labor. In order for the enterprise to function fully, it will be necessary to hire a large number of employees who will have to pay wages. And this means that at the initial stage it is necessary to have certain savings.

Starting a business requires capital investment

Necessary equipment

In order to organize such activities and process plastic, it is necessary not only to find a suitable premises (its area must be at least 400 square meters) and hire employees, but also to purchase the appropriate equipment:

sorting conveyor;
vibrating sieve;
crusher;
centrifuge;
device for removing plugs;
washing container;
Dryer.

The cost of all these machines and devices, at best, will cost at least 3.5 million rubles, so to save money, equipment should be purchased on the secondary market.

Plastic molding at home

Recycling process

The recycling process for used bottles is as follows:

sorting - waste plastic is distributed according to shape and color, as well as caps are removed from bottles and stickers are torn off;
crushing - sorted containers are crushed using a special plant, and as a result of such processing, plastic flakes are obtained. The produced mass will need to be thoroughly rinsed with water;
drying - the purified raw material is exposed to high temperatures and formed into small lumps. The resulting flex is recommended to be sold independently or granulated;
granulation is the process of improving the quality of raw materials to further increase the cost.

A difficult moment in this activity is that the processing process must be adjusted so that the equipment does not stand idle.

Search for raw materials

To ensure the operation of the plant, it is necessary to have the necessary amount of raw materials. The best place to collect used plastic is landfills; for a small amount, specialists can negotiate with workers who will search for bottles.

And also it is necessary to open a collection point for plastic from the population.

When extra finances appear, raw materials should be purchased immediately in large volumes from factories and shops.

Business profitability

As practice shows, if you establish a distribution channel even before opening a business, all costs can pay off in a year, after which production will bring a net profit.

Although recycling plastic bottles at home is indeed a very profitable business, before organizing this business, it is necessary to conduct some analysis. It will help to find out whether the activity will be profitable in a particular case.

In addition, it must be remembered that at the initial stage, recycling plastic bottles at home will require huge investments, and in the absence of capital, it is better to think about another business idea.

Video: Recycling plastic bottles

Removal, processing and disposal of waste from 1 to 5 hazard class

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A modern person in everyday life is surrounded by a large amount of waste, and today the issue of plastic recycling is extremely relevant. Products from this material are found everywhere, from a toothbrush to the details of large structures. Even the place of glassware is confident, albeit gradually occupied by plastic containers.

This trend is easily explained - plastic containers do not break, do not overheat, do not become cloudy over time. In addition, plastic products are cheaper, more convenient to transport and do not injure even if damaged. But plastic products litter nature if not properly disposed of. Their main disadvantage is that they do not rot! Therefore, huge landfills are full of plastic bags, bottles, cans and dishes. The question arises - is it possible to dispose of waste in a way that is safe for nature?

Classification of plastic products

From the total mass of plastic, thermosetting and thermoplastic groups can be distinguished, but the process of obtaining products in both cases involves the formation of the product in special presses or with the help of equipment that invents the product. The difference between the groups lies in the possibility of cyclic circulation.

Thermosetting plastics harden after melting and are not suitable for further processing, as they begin to char. An example is polystyrene, which is used to manufacture electrical sockets and plugs.
Thermoplastic types of plastic can be recycled many times. This is, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene, which can be melted repeatedly, but the material becomes less durable. In particular, polyethylene becomes cloudy and brittle when heated. You can’t count on the quality of what has been created, but you can use the material for simple things like plates and vases.

Disposal of plastic bottles is considered one of the topical environmental problems, significant masses are stored in landfills. Since they do not rot, and when burned, they emit toxic fumes into the atmosphere, it is necessary to sort the plastic with subsequent processing.

PET is a fairly demanded recyclable material, which is a source for polymers. Unfortunately, the plastic recycling mechanism has not yet been worked out and, accordingly, is far from perfect.

Even a small town throws out more than 20 tons of PET bottles every year and the volume of waste continues to grow. It turns out that recycling is a necessary measure that allows you to delay the environmental catastrophe.

Recycling principle

In most foreign countries, the recycling of plastic bottles has been replaced by a cyclic waste-free production. In Russia, a similar movement is at the stage of development. If we count the total amount of PET waste in landfills, then it would be enough for all functioning enterprises capable of processing plastic and plastic. In the meantime, only 10% of the total amount of plastic is recycled in Russia, and, mainly, this is a part of production waste and quite a bit of consumer waste.

PET waste classification

In residential buildings, a small part of the total amount of recycled plastic goes to waste. But most of it is given by enterprises and shopping centers, where goods and cargo are packed and unpacked. You can classify waste by complexity and cost of processing.

The necessary properties have clean waste received from any production, in places with well-established separate collection and sorting. These are medical waste, plastic containers and PET. The profitability of processing is high.

Average properties of similar waste with a certain amount of pollution and with the intended use in the food industry. The collection and recycling of plastic bottles in this version is complicated by the costs of sorting and washing products.

Difficult disposal of bottles and poor material properties - in production associated with automotive or household appliances. The collection and processing of such materials has low profitability, so in Russia this is practically not done.

It is possible to distinguish the classification by types and types of polymers:

Waste of large-tonnage and expensive plastics with a developed market and high technical equipment. This includes film, lumpy plastic, disposable tableware and fibers, as well as PVC.
Waste packaging and production, which today do not have a developed market. This includes used PET containers, food packaging films, disposable tableware and thermal insulation materials, as well as old building materials.

According to the method of disposal and the degree of environmental damage, four types of plastic waste can be distinguished:

Allowing reuse, this is 10% of the total mass of polymers.
Allowing the processing of polymers into monomers or artificial fuel. This is a promising direction of processing with one drawback - high cost.
Waste that is burned to produce heat and electricity. It only needs to grind the materials for recycling.
Waste that can be buried without much harm in general landfills.

Processing methods

The recycling business can be quite lucrative, as it helps to reduce the cost of packaging, but plastic can be used for other purposes. Types of recycling plastic bottles at home:

Firstly, you can use plastic for building at home. To do this, the waste is pressed and blocks are prepared with the addition of chips.
Secondly, bottles can be used for the production of dolls, cups and other souvenirs.

The main technological stages of processing

First, bottles are collected and then sorted.
The second stage is crushing. It requires special technical equipment to obtain flex.
Now the flex is washed with caustic soda. The resulting mass goes to a centrifuge to separate paper and other foreign elements. This is the so-called flotation process, which also removes bottle caps and rings.
Flex packaging is the final stage, which allows for sale.
Agglomeration and granulation can be applied to obtain a more convenient and high-quality product. In fact, this is the sintering of the flex with the transformation into granules.

In total, all the technical equipment for this process will cost several tens of thousands of dollars. At home, such production cannot be processed, but this is a great idea for a business.

“Energy can be obtained from garbage” The Epoch Times wrote that they were going to build a grandiose waste processing plant near Kyiv. He, like a vacuum cleaner, will clear our capital of all rubbish. This gives hope, but "while the grass grows, the horse will die of hunger." Therefore, we need to find a way out of the difficult situation now.

Marianna from Kiev with a "compost bucket" says that there are no hopeless situations. She bought 2 buckets of 20 liters to collect leftover food and compost it. I drilled holes in one so that the resulting liquid would drain into another bucket.

At the bottom of the bottom, the hostess put wet pieces of the egg tray and last year's leaves brought from the street. In the top bucket, Marianne put vegetable scraps, eggshells, and so on. When a layer of 3-4 cm was formed, she generously sprinkled with a mixture of bokashi, which promotes fermentation. In addition to everything, the experimenter watered the future compost with a means to increase the yield of EM.

Within a month, the bucket was filled to the brim. The liquid from the lower bucket, which had a terrible smell, as Marianna herself writes, she poured into the toilet. The rest of the waste continued to decompose, turning into fertile soil. When the fertilizer was ready, the Kiev woman added it to the boxes on the balcony, in which she grew lettuce, basil, parsley, lemon balm and even oak.

Bokashi, bokashi, how good are you

Let's look at our task more broadly. It turns out that in Japan a similar method has long been adopted by many families.

The process of making compost at home from food waste was developed by a Japanese gardener. The method has two undoubted advantages:

disposal of organic waste, and almost odorless;
repels rats, flies and other uninvited "guests".

How does the bokashi composting method work?

We put the peelings of vegetables and fruits in a special compost bucket, it has a drain at the bottom, like in a wine barrel. Sprinkle with a mixture of bokashi with a layer of 2-3 cm and close the lid.

The next day, we put the rest of the food there again and sprinkle the bokashi abundantly again. It should be said that meat and dairy waste cannot be processed by this method, it is not suitable for this.

After 10 days, a liquid is obtained in the bucket, which can be used as fertilizer.

In Japan, whole gardens are grown thanks to the bokashi remedy, since the compost obtained in the apartment quickly takes root in free soil. In a short time, it gives a lot of earthworms, which perfectly loosen the earth. This is followed by a good harvest.

Emochki-Bokashi is one of the most popular EM fertilizers in the world. A kilogram of funds costs about 50 UAH. Also sold in packages of 250 g and 450 g. Type in the search engine "mixture of bokashi Kyiv" (or another city) to find a suitable seller. It can also be found in specialized gardening stores.

In addition to organic waste, in order to clean your yard, city and country from garbage, it is worth separating other types of waste and taking them to the appropriate recycling centers. The Epoch Times has developed a , which shows places throughout the city that receive different types of waste.

We present to you and, which shows the consequences of the fact that people do not share garbage - garbage dumps in Kyiv and the Kyiv region.