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Airports strive to create a warm and inviting atmosphere by incorporating nature into their spaces, resembling a forest-like environment that enhances the travel experience. Travellers often feel inspired to capture the vibrant green surroundings, adding to their overall enjoyment.

However, have you ever considered the substantial amount of green waste generated in this process? Some airports produce up to 10 tonnes of green waste daily, posing a significant challenge in managing and treating such large quantities of organic waste safely.

Typically, this green waste includes leaf trimmings, dried leaves, twigs, branches, and logs. The primary challenge lies in effectively managing and treating such substantial volumes of landscape waste, as landfill disposal can be environmentally hazardous. During hot weather conditions, there is a risk of wood catching fire, which can be highly dangerous.

At Orbin™, drawing from years of experience in composting, we have developed a straightforward and effective solution for treating any amount of green waste and transforming it into nutrient-rich compost. Through trials conducted at an international airport, we have successfully composted green waste alongside STP sludge, demonstrating our innovative approach to sustainable waste management.

How to implement green waste composting for all airports?

 

Green waste treatment at airports involves mixing shredded landscape waste with STP sludge and a microbial consortium. The shredded landscape waste is Carbon rich and STP sludge is nitrogen rich. With the microbial consortium added it maintains the right C:N ratio, increases beneficial microbes and accelerates the decomposition process. This mixture will be placed in Orbin SILO composting containers located in the designated area for green waste management. These containers provide 360-degree aeration, including force aeration and leachate control, ensuring an odour-free, fly-free, and rodent-proof composting process.

The entire setup will operate in a controlled environment with continuous aeration facilitated by biofloc blowers. This ensures optimal conditions for composting throughout the process. Additionally, the flexibility of the products and equipment offered by Orbin™ allows for the entire setup to be relocated to a new location if needed, demonstrating adaptability and efficiency in waste management solutions.The units will be covered with rainproof shelters to prevent attracting birds, thereby enhancing airport safety measures. The resulting compost can then be used to nurture airport plants, promoting a lush green environment without the need to purchase compost externally.

The advantages of composting green waste at the source, based on the treatment of 5 tons per day, include significant reductions in GHG emissions, water usage, enhanced carbon sequestration, and the economic value of the compost generated. Here’s a summary of these benefits:

1. Reduction in GHG Emissions: Composting green waste at the source minimizes greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise result from landfilling organic materials.
2. Water Usage Savings: The nutrient-rich compost produced helps retain soil moisture, reducing the need for frequent watering.
3. Carbon Sequestration: The composting process enhances the soil’s ability to sequester carbon, contributing to climate change mitigation.
4. Economic Value: The resulting compost is a valuable product that can be used to enrich soils, reducing the need for chemical fertilisers and lowering overall landscaping costs.

Results of Green waste composting pilot conducted in an international airport

 

OWCs offer promising solutions for managing organic waste directly at the source, but there are several misconceptions surrounding their effectiveness and practicality. In this blog post, we’ll debunk common myths about OWCs and provide factual information to help you better understand their benefits.

OWCs are Expensive to Install and Maintain

One common myth about OWCs is that they are expensive to install and maintain. However, there are various types of OWCs available, including cost-effective options suitable for different budgets. In fact, investing in an OWC can lead to long-term savings by reducing waste disposal fees and even generating revenue from selling compost produced by the system. Our superior design easy composting Orbin Eco-OWC offers a cost-effective product and solution for waste treatment. The annual maintenance cost is also minimal, making it a financially sound investment for organizations of all sizes. Orbin Eco-OWC operates without electricity and high temperatures, making it a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for organic waste management

OWCs Produce Foul Odours

Through our expertise, we’ve observed that many OWCs may produce foul odors due to various factors, such as an imbalance in the carbon and nitrogen ratio, inadequate aeration conditions, exposure of waste to high temperatures, and more. Over time, we have accumulated invaluable knowledge and expertise through extensive research and hands-on experience and providing the necessary requirements for odorless composting processes. This experience has allowed us to develop our Orbin Eco-OWC, ensuring a pleasant and guaranteed odour-free composting experience for users and surrounding areas.

OWCs Are Complex and Require Specialized Training

Our Orbin Eco-OWC can be managed by any existing worker onsite. Composting with our system is as straightforward as mixing the waste with the absorbent media and adding it to the OWC. That’s it! After just 30 days, high-quality compost will be ready to be harvested. This simplicity makes the Orbin Eco-OWC accessible to all, eliminating the need for extensive training and specialized skills.

OWCs Are Inefficient and Do Not Produce Quality Compost

The Orbin Eco-OWC harnesses microbial actions in an aerobic composting process without the need for electricity, shredding, or high temperatures. Our system utilizes the Orbin composting enzyme premix, which not only acts as an absorbent, maintaining the necessary carbon ratio and moisture levels but also facilitates controlled aerobic composting. The result? High-quality compost that has undergone rigorous lab testing to ensure its quality and effectiveness. With the Orbin Eco-OWC, inefficiency is a myth of the past.

OWCs Are Only Suitable for Large-Scale Operations

Some believe that OWCs are only practical for large-scale operations and are not suitable for smaller settings. However, Orbin Eco-OWC has been successfully implemented in various environments, including households, businesses, and communities of all sizes. The scalability allows it to be customized to meet the needs of different users, debunking this myth.

If you’re interested in learning more about Orbin Eco-OWC and how they can benefit your organization or community, contact us today! Our team is here to provide additional information and assistance to help you explore the possibilities for your waste management needs. Let’s work together to make a positive impact on the environment with On-Site Organic Waste Converters!

 

Compost is typically made from organic materials like Kitchen waste, yard waste and plant matter that decomposes over time to create nutrient-rich soil amendment. Microbes are responsible for composting.

Vermicompost on the other hand is made specially with the help of worms that break down organic matter into nutrient-rich fertilizer through their digestion process. Earthworms are utilized to speed up the decomposition process.

Let us understand the advantages of Composting over Vermicompost.

• Higher NPK ratio: Compost has higher NPK ratio than Vermicompost which will help slow release of nutrients to plants.
• Less Moisture content: In Compost the moisture content will be around 30 to 40% where as in Vermicompost it will be 70 to 80%. In traditional composting, moisture levels are managed to optimize the decomposition process, ensuring that organic materials break down efficiently without becoming overly saturated. The lower moisture content helps maintain aerobic conditions, allowing beneficial microorganisms to thrive and decompose the organic matter. In vermicomposting, moisture management is also critical, but the process often results in a more consistently moist environment due to the presence of worms. The worms require moisture to survive and move through the organic material, and their activities contribute to the overall moisture content of the vermicompost.
• Temperature control: In vermicomposting, earthworms require an ideal temperature range of 18 to 25 degrees Celsius to survive, and they cannot tolerate temperatures higher than this. Composting, however, does not necessitate such controlled temperature conditions.
• Cow dung ingestion: Composting typically requires carbon rich material since the organic waste is nitrogen rich for the decomposition process whereas the Vermicomposting uses cow dung for the earth worms to grow, However, the use of cow dung as a substrate for earthworms is a traditional method that may not be suitable or practical for urban environments due to space constraints, odour concerns, and sourcing difficulties.
• Versatility: Compost can be made from a wide range of organic materials, including yard waste, kitchen scraps, and agricultural residues. This versatility allows for the recycling of a broader range of materials compared to vermicompost, which primarily relies on organic matter suitable for worms. Foods such as citrus fruits, onions, garlic, spicy foods, dairy products, meat, fish, and oily or greasy foods may contain substances that can harm worms. These foods can create acidic or toxic conditions in the worm bin, attract pests, produce foul odors, or interfere with the worms’ ability to breathe. 
• Scalability: Composting can be done on a larger scale more easily than vermicomposting, making it suitable for larger operations such as commercial composting facilities or municipal composting programs.
• Faster Process: Composting typically occurs at a faster rate than vermicomposting, especially when using methods such as aerobic composting, which accelerates the decomposition process through microbial activity. This faster turnaround time can be advantageous for those needing compost more quickly.
• Weed Seed and Pathogen Reduction: Composting can effectively neutralize weed seeds and harmful pathogens present in the organic materials, reducing the risk of weed growth and disease transmission in the resulting compost. Vermicomposting systems may attract pests such as fruit flies, mites, or rodents, particularly if the composting environment is not properly managed or if inappropriate food waste is added. Also red ants will be attracted towards the compost pile if earth worms die during the process of harvesting the compost.
• Improved Soil Structure: Compost can help improve soil structure by adding organic matter and enhancing soil moisture retention, aeration, and drainage. While vermicompost also improves soil structure, compost may have a broader range of particle sizes, contributing to better soil texture.
• Lower Maintenance: Composting typically requires less maintenance and monitoring compared to vermicomposting. Once the compost pile is established and properly managed, it can largely decompose on its own.

 

Indian villages typically have considerable amount of biomass in the form of Cow dung, Sheep/Goat dung, Crop Residues, Leaves & Twigs of trees, Dry grass etc.

Current practice of putting all the animal dung and residues to a pit and let it decompose to Farm Yard Manure (FYM) is time-consuming and labor intensive

Farm Yard Manure (FYM) most often does not provide all required nutrients for the plants to grow

For heterogenous waste like canteen waste, bio-gas generation is not the optimal solution. Lets understand the reasons,

• This is because bio-gas works best when the waste is calorie rich and is of one type Ex. Potato peels, Starch from rice, Baking waste involving flour, fat & sugar.
• Since canteen waste has fruit & vegetable peels, egg shells, bones etc. the waste in general is not calorie rich.
• Such kind of waste when treated in bio-gas plant builds up scales in the bio-gas chamber and has to be frequently cleaned. The cost of maintenance is extremely high.
• Scale of treatment should be more than 20 tons per day using sophisticated bio-gas setup which requires constant monitoring of various bio-chemical parameters and corrections to input materials based upon the reactions in the digester.
• For every 1 ton of food waste, over 3 tons of nitrogen rich sludge is formed. There should be a process to treat this sludge and convert into non-toxic soil friendly format (i.e. composting of the sludge needs to be done)
• For 1 ton of food waste treated through anaerobic digestion, approx. 200 cubic feet of biogas is produced. Out of this, 50% is methane and rest is CO2. However the utilisation of methane has to happen at source itself.
• Botting of bio-gas under high pressure into cylinders consumes almost 70% of the energy equivalent that is put into a cylinder. So transporting bio-gas is not a sustainable option.
• Since 3 tons of semi-liquid sludge is formed for every 1 ton of food waste, the cost of composting is 3 times higher as the absorbent (carbon rich material) required will be more to absorb the moisture.

Composting on the other hand deals with all kinds of organic waste and there is only one resultant output – compost. This can be used for agricultural purposes and there is always demand for it. The benefits of the composting project can be summarized as “tangible” and “in-tangible”

TANGIBLE BENEFITS:

• Considering 1 tons of canteen waste treatment per day and using 0.5 tons of landscape waste to treat the same, we can expect an output of 0.5 tons of compost per day after 30 days. This translates into 15 tons of compost per month or 180 tons per annum
• 180 tons of compost can approximately be used to grow crops in 90-100 acres of land. Typically the basal application of compost is 2 tons per acre of farm land.
• Alternatively, the compost can be used to green the road side plants & trees and create an urban forest of over 18000 trees per annum (Dosage 10kg / plant).
• Currently there is costs associated to dispose off the landscape waste and canteen waste. This will be saved as the waste is treated within the premises.

INTANGIBLE BENEFITS:

• Savings in Green House Gases (GHG) due to daily transportation of waste outside the campus
• Over 180 metric tons of carbon per annum will be given back to the soil which helps in further carbon  sequestration by the soil.
• As per scientific data available, every hectare of land treated with compost sequesters 2.5 metric tons of carbon-di-oxide from the atmosphere per annum. As and when farmers use the compost in their lands to grow food crops, the CO2 absorption by the soil is enabled
• Goodwill generated by providing compost to farmers / local communities will be significant.

 

Orbin™ ECO-OWC offers cost effective, smell free, no power , labour friendly and nutrient rich compost

A Comparison of Orbin™ ECO-OWC and Mechanical OWC is as follows,

• Functionality:
  • Orbin™ ECO-OWC: Composting using microbial action. Organic waste convertor without electricity required.
  • Mechanical OWC: Relies on automated systems – requires electricity.
• Capacity:
  • Orbin™ ECO-OWC: Solutions available to treat as little as 2kg per day to 20 tons per day of waste.
  • Mechanical OWC: Capacity ranges from 400 to 800 kg per day.
• Fabricated or Manufactured:
  • Orbin™ ECO-OWC: Manufactured product using FRP and polyethylene parts. Long life assured. Corrosion proof and rodent proof. Does not require maintenance and no down time because it uses natures principle of decomposition.
  • Mechanical OWC: Manufactured product utilising motors and blades for waste processing. Requires regular maintenance.
• Odour:
  • Orbin™ ECO-OWC: Guaranteed no odour due to the Carbon and Nitrogen balance provided by the Orbin composting enzyme due to which no flies are attracted towards the OWC unit.
  • Mechanical OWC: Emits bad odour due to the imbalance in carbon and nitrogen ratio and flies hovering around the OWC unit.
• Liquid/Leachate tray:
  • Orbin™ ECO-OWC: Inbuilt and concealed liquid/leachate tray prevents odour. Features a pipe for leachate removal that will be connected to STP. 
  • Mechanical OWC: Not applicable, uses electricity to dry out leachate.
• Labor requirement:
  • Orbin™ ECO-OWC: Maximum time required is 30 minutes for 1 labor, involving mixing waste with enzymes and dumping the mix into Orbin Stax. Designed for simplicity, requiring minimal skill; can be operated by any individual.
  • Mechanical OWC: Time required is 4-6 hours for 1 skilled labor, involving various activities like inspecting waste for metal parts, adding waste in batches, adding enzymes, and transferring cured waste to storage. Skilled labor needed due to the complexity of tasks involved, making it less accessible for untrained individuals.

 

Composting Made Easy with Orbin STAX and Orbin SILO

At OWC, we provide two innovative composting solutions to efficiently process kitchen waste: Orbin STAX and Orbin SILO. Both systems are designed for simplicity and sustainability, yet they differ in usage and application.

Orbin STAX: Effortless Composting Solution

If you’re looking for a simple and low-maintenance method to compost kitchen waste, Orbin STAX is the ideal choice. Here’s how it works:

1. Mix: Combine kitchen waste with enzymes.
2. Compost: Add the mixture to the Orbin STAX unit.
3. Harvest: In just 25–30 days, collect nutrient-rich compost perfect for greening your apartment community.

For finer compost particles, a curing process is recommended:

• Transfer the compost to Orbin SILO for an additional 20 days of curing.
• The result is a rich, black-colored compost packed with nutrients for healthy plant growth.

This entire process is electricity-free, relying on the natural activity of aerobic bacteria.

Orbin SILO: All-in-One Composting and Curing

For those seeking an all-in-one solution, Orbin SILO is a versatile system where composting and curing occur within the same unit. Here’s how to use it:

1. Shred: Process the kitchen waste for better decomposition.
2. Mix: Add enzymes to the shredded waste.
3. Compost and Cure: Transfer the mixture into Orbin SILO.

In just 30 days, you’ll have compost ready for landscaping and gardening.

• Each Orbin SILO unit produces approximately 1 ton of compost per cycle.
• The system is scalable to fit your available space and the volume of kitchen waste, making it an excellent choice for larger communities.

Why Choose Orbin Composting Solutions?

Both Orbin STAX and Orbin SILO offer:

• Efficient Composting: Fast and odor-free processes tailored for apartment and villa communities.
• Sustainable Design: No electricity required, powered by natural aerobic bacteria.
• Nutrient-Rich Output: High-quality compost to enrich soil and promote healthy plant growth.

Discover More

Curious about how these solutions work in real-life settings? Visit our Consultancy page to view images of installations in apartment and villa communities.

Take the First Step Towards Sustainability

Whether you prefer the user-friendly Orbin STAX or the scalable Orbin SILO, both solutions make composting kitchen waste easy and eco-friendly. With minimal effort, you can transform waste into valuable compost, enhance your surroundings, and embrace sustainable living.

For more details or to get started, contact us today. Let’s work together to create greener, cleaner communities!

As the world faces urgent challenges in environmental conservation and sustainability, innovative approaches are more crucial than ever. Highways, the lifelines of our transportation systems, produce substantial amounts of green waste—grass clippings, tree trimmings, and organic debris. Often overlooked, this waste holds immense promise for environmental benefits.

In this blog, we’ll explore how effective management and treatment of highway green waste can significantly contribute to a healthier planet. From reducing landfill usage to creating renewable energy and enhancing soil quality, the possibilities are both diverse and impactful.

One of the major hurdles in this process is the practical treatment of green waste generated along highway routes. Setting up designated areas for waste management often proves unfeasible due to challenges like supervision, labor requirements, safety protocols, and the need for dedicated personnel. As a result, less sustainable methods—such as burning or using pit composting systems—are frequently adopted, despite their environmental drawbacks.

Let’s reimagine these challenges as opportunities for innovation and sustainable change!

 

When burned, wood produces more CO2 emissions per unit of energy than fossil fuels. For example, burning 1 kg of wood releases approximately 1.80 kg of CO2, contributing to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that significantly impact the environment.

Alternatively, pit composting of green waste presents its own set of challenges:

• It requires additional labor for excavating pits along highways.
• The decomposition process is slow, often taking several years to complete.
• The compost eventually blends with the surrounding soil, making it difficult to harvest or utilize effectively.

What is the green waste composting solution available for highway?

An effective solution for managing green waste along highways is to establish composting heaps made from shredded green waste. By integrating a microbial consortium into the waste and covering the heaps with shading nets, we can prevent debris from blowing onto roads during windy conditions and ensure efficient decomposition. These composting heaps can be set up at 2-kilometer intervals along the highways. Using the existing workforce, the harvested compost can be applied to nourish the plants in highway medians, fostering a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to highway maintenance.

How Does Green Waste Treatment Along Highways Reduce Water Consumption Over Time?

Incorporating compost into the soil significantly reduces the water required for plant maintenance. Compost-enriched soil can retain up to 2.5 times more water than traditional soil, decreasing the frequency and quantity of watering needed. This process not only conserves water but also improves soil health and plant growth.

Key Benefits of Compost in Soil:

• Soil Regeneration: Restores soil structure and fertility.
• Enhanced Moisture Retention: Helps soil hold more water, reducing evaporation and runoff.
• Improved Nutrient Supply: Provides a threefold higher NPK ratio with a slow release of nutrients to plants.
• Nutrient Solubility: Converts soil nutrients into a water-soluble form, making them more accessible to plants.

By treating green waste effectively, highways can adopt a sustainable approach that benefits both the environment and water resources.