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Food Technology
Food manufacture
Waste management
In the core strand, Food manufacture, you learn about the impact of food manufacturing technologies such as environmental issues. Waste management practices can have a positive outcome. This tutorial examines an innovation in the disposal of organic matter.
Outcomes
This material addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcome:
H1.4 A student
evaluates the impact of food manufacture on the individual, society
and environment.
Extract from Stage 6 Food Technology Syllabus © Board of Studies NSW 1999.
Life-cycle assessment
Design for environment (DfE) is a set of principles that designers in all fields of manufacture should be considering. There are a number of tools that can be used to assess the environmental impact of products. The main aim of the tool is to analyse the impact a product has throughout its life cycle. It involves looking back at where the product came from and predicting how it will be used and utlimately disposed of. The diagram below may help you to see the components of a product system.
Product system from a life cycle perspective (SETAC in Lewis et al, 2001: 42)
Waste management is needed at many stages during the life cycle of food products. Much of the packaging for food can now be recycled and while the consumer may be able to compost organic matter, what happens in the commercial setting? Consider the waste from fruit and vegetable stores, supermarkets and restaurants. A new Australian development has been the BiobiN ® .
The BiobiN ®
Peats' BiobiN ® is an in-vessel composting system that is used to collect green waste from fruit and vegetable stores, supermarkets and restaurants. The BiobiN ® is currently being trialled at McDonalds restaurants in Adelaide for the collection of their organic waste.
A BiobiN ® comprises
a composting vessel and aeration system. See the image (right).
At the end of each cycle the BiobiN ® is collected and replaced with a clean composter.
The BiobiN ® contents are taken to an approved site for completion of the composting cycle.
Activity 1
What are the main benefits and features
of the BiobiN ® 
?
References
Lewis, H. and Gertsakis, J. et al 2001, Design and environment: A global guide to designing greener goods, Greenleaf Publishing, London, p. 42.
Activity 1 answer
What are the main benefits and features of the BiobiN ®?
The main benefits and features of the BiobiN ® are:
- the control of leaching of unsuitable substances from compost
- the control of odour
- safe use
- the waste becomes useful compost rather than landfill
- its ease of operation
- it controls nuisance pests
and vermin.
www.peatssoil.com.au
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