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How It Works

How the Eco-Smart Food Waste dryer works is similar to a sophisticated tumble dryer, turning the food waste in hot air, extracting the 80% water content. Food waste is on average 80% water. The Eco-Smart Food Waste Dryer turns wet food waste into a sterile, dry residue, 20% or less of its former weight.

Read our simple guide below to show you how the machine works. 

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Hospital Food Waste

Loading the Food Waste

You can load any food waste you like. Well almost any - avoid large knuckle bones of meat as these may jam the mechanism. But apart from that put it all in. Remember though: it is a food waste dryer so leave out plastic bottles, cling film, cutlery, bags, glass and packaging. You can put compostable food waste bags made from PLA as these disintegrate in the overnight process.

Turn It On

Once you have reached the full mark inside, shut the lid and press the start button. That’s it. Leave it until the machine finishes its cycle. The rest is automatic. The chamber heats up, so the air is 75-85°C. The water content of the food waste (approximately 80% by volume) is evaporated as steam and condensed back into clear, sterilised water which then goes into the drain. Moisture detectors measure the dryness of the residue and automatically turn off the machine once the food waste is dry.
QEUH Eco-Smart Dryers
Eco-Smart Discharge 150

Empty Machine

After typically 12 to 18 hours, the food waste is reduced to sterile, dry powder looking like instant coffee granules, roughly 20% of its former weight and volume. The time taken depends on the exact make-up of the waste. Liquids and starch tend to lengthen the cycle time. Underfilling will shorten it. Place the tub supplied under the discharge door, open the door and press the ‘discharge’ button. It takes 10 to 15 minutes to empty. You can store the practically odourless residue for weeks as it is sterile. But most users put it in food waste wheelie bins for removal to a composting or anaerobic digestion facility. The machine is then ready to be loaded again.

 

Food Waste Dryer Models

The Eco-Smart Food Waste Dryer is made from high specification stainless steel. All units are have locking castors so can be pushed into position. All you need is a power supply nearby and a standard sink drain (see Installation and Commissioning). It is easy to use, with simple on/off and discharge buttons and high specification RFID interlock sensors. Just load the food waste, close the lid and press the start button - the process is automatic.

ES30

Up to 20kg per day

ES60

Up to 40kg per day

ES80

Up to 50kg per day

ES150

Up to 100kg per day

ES300

Up to 200kg per day

ES500

Up to 350kg per day

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Download Your Guide

To The New Food Waste Disposal Rules In England

Download the guide to understand your legal obligations, reduce food waste costs, and choose the right solution to keep your site compliant, hygienic, and efficient.

Sectors

For examples of existing installations visit our Sectors page. The Eco-Smart Food waste dryer is installed in hospitals, shopping centres, hotels, prisons, military barracks and on board ships.

Hospitals

Hospitals are among the largest producers of food waste. In Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales it is illegal to use macerators or waste-to-water machines to pump food waste into the drain system.

Prisons

While all prisons have well-established security procedures, every time a vehicle enters of leaves the prison premises there is a heightened security risk.

Shopping Centres and Food Courts

Food waste generated in shopping centres and food courts has different challenges from other single-site premises such as a hotel or restaurant.

Hotels and Restaurants

The ‘back of house’ requirement to deal with food waste has never been the most glamorous part of running a hotel or restaurant.

Marine Vessels

The Eco-Smart Food Waste Dryer has an important role to play in ships complying with the strict international rules on the disposal of food waste at sea (Marpol Annex V).

The Eco-Smart Food Waste Dryer accepts all types of mixed food waste*

Fruit; vegetables, fruit and vegetable peels; eggs and eggshells; fish; fish heads and guts; meat; poultry; rice; pasta; bread; pastry; shellfish including mussels; tea bags and tea; coffee grounds and coffee; milk; fruit juice; gravies; wine; beer.

* except large knuckle bones

Both eco-smarts in place

Drying food waste is the future of food waste disposal and it’s here now.