Food Waste Depackaging
As we strive to divert more food products from landfills, innovative solutions like the Thor Turbo Separator have emerged to lead the charge. Our choice to invest in this technology at Dakota Prairie is an example of our earth-first mentality.
This top-of-the-line depackaging and separation system allows us to efficiently process packaged food waste, separating it from its packaging and enabling the composting of its contents. This means that recalled, expired, or misprinted foods from stores or manufacturing facilities can find new life as compost instead of contributing to landfill waste. The Thor’s power lies in its capacity and precision, capable of separating over 100 tons per day with a clean rate of 99% or more.
How Does Depackaging Work?
- Commercial customers, spanning from grocery stores to businesses to food manufacturers, deliver packaged materials to our facility, still intact in their original packaging.
- A skilled operator utilizes a front-end loader to transfer the products into the Thor. This includes a wide array of packaging materials, from plastic to cardboard.
- The products are consolidated into a single bin, where they undergo pre-crushing and bag opening to prepare for separation.
- Within the separator, housed in the robust North American steel body of the Thor, a 125-horsepower motor drives 52 swing hammers to meticulously separate the contents. Notably, the system operates without the need for pneumatics or hydraulics, and it accommodates both wet and dry items.
- Upon completion of the process, one output conveyor transports the packaging to a designated dumpster for disposal in the landfill.
- Meanwhile, the other output retains the organic material (food) for utilization in the creation of compost at our facility.
The resulting organic material is rich in nutrients and teeming with beneficial bacteria, poised to enhance the compost recipe utilized here at Dakota Prairie. The Thor represents a comprehensive solution for diverse organic materials composting, embodying the fusion of cutting-edge technology, robust engineering, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability—core principles of our operational philosophy.
