Swissdale, Penn., is turning food waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer

Pennsylvania’s Borough of Swissdale is collaborating with Ecotone Renewables to set up a food waste disposal system and greenhouse that will create nutrient-rich fertilizer and reduce the borough’s garbage hauling costs. Since rotting food waste accounts for 8.2 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions, the system is earth-friendly.

Ecotone Renewables began as an aquaponics project at the University of Pittsburgh. It uses anaerobic digestion to break down organic material without oxygen being present.

The system will transform approximately 385 pounds of food waste over a seven-day period to become 50 gallons of fertilizer for use in Swissvale’s community gardens and Department of Public Works projects.

To read the full version of this article, visit Waste360.