A method and apparatus for operating a composter device includes a compost container, a condensate reservoir, a first fluid pathway fluidly coupling the composting chamber and the condensate reservoir, and a fan moving air from the composting chamber to the condensate reservoir along the first fluid pathway to define a first airflow.

A readily erectable installation for recycling organic waste into biogas and liquid fertilizer, on an industrial scale, implementing essentially anaerobic digestion processes, is described; the readily erectable installation includes: a cylindrically shaped assemblable enclosure and a pliant collapsible anaerobic digester, suspendable from the enclosure; a compact kit-of-parts for erecting the installation and respective method using the readily erectable installation for recycling organic waste into biogas and liquid fertilizer are described.

A readily erectable installation for recycling organic waste into biogas and liquid fertilizer, on an industrial scale, implementing essentially anaerobic digestion processes, is described; the readily erectable installation includes: a cylindrically shaped assemblable enclosure and a pliant collapsible anaerobic digester, suspendable from the enclosure; a compact kit-of-parts for erecting the installation and respective method using the readily erectable installation for recycling organic waste into biogas and liquid fertilizer are described.

Systems and methods associated with biomass decomposition are generally described. Certain embodiments are related to adjusting a flow rate of a fluid comprising oxygen into a reactor in which biomass is decomposed. The adjustment may be made, at least in part, based upon a measurement of a characteristic of the reactor and/or a characteristic of the biomass. Certain embodiments are related to cooling at least partially decomposed biomass. The biomass may be cooled by flowing a gas over an outlet conduit in which the biomass is cooled, and then directing the gas to a reactor after it has flowed over the outlet conduit. Certain embodiments are related to systems comprising a reactor and an outlet conduit configured such that greater than or equal to 75% of its axially projected cross-sectional area is occupied by a conveyor. Certain embodiments are related to systems comprising a reactor comprising an elongated compartment having a longitudinal axis arranged substantially vertically and an outlet conduit comprising a conveyor.

A composting apparatus comprises a bin, an access panel, an aerator, a water content sensor, a valve, and a composting controller. The bin stores organic materials and compost therein. The access panel, disposed over an opening within the bin, allows access to an interior of the bin. The aerator, disposed within the bin, allows air into the bin to aerate the organic materials and compost therein. The water content sensor, disposed within the bin, senses a quantity of water within the organic materials and compost within the bin. The valve, coupled to a water line, controls a quantity of water added to the bin. The composting controller, coupled to the water content sensor and the water valve, actuates the water valve to control a quantity of water added to the bin based on the sensed quantity of water within the organic materials and compost.

An aerobic method for treating organic material, having the steps of loading a treatment unit with organic material; covering the organic material with a first membrane; aerobic treatment of the organic material by actively supplying air to the organic material and the supplied air flowing through said organic material; turning over the organic material using a turning-over device, wherein the organic material is homogenized and/or mixed; and continuing the supply of air according to step c). The turning-over device is moved along the direction of longitudinal extent of the treatment unit, turning over the organic material by a turning-over roller. The turning-over device has a membrane holding apparatus which holds the first membrane covering the organic material during the turning over, and a membrane laying apparatus, which lays a second membrane on the turned-over organic material.

An aerobic method for treating organic material, having the steps of loading a treatment unit with organic material; covering the organic material with a first membrane; aerobic treatment of the organic material by actively supplying air to the organic material and the supplied air flowing through said organic material; turning over the organic material using a turning-over device, wherein the organic material is homogenized and/or mixed; and continuing the supply of air according to step c). The turning-over device is moved along the direction of longitudinal extent of the treatment unit, turning over the organic material by a turning-over roller. The turning-over device has a membrane holding apparatus which holds the first membrane covering the organic material during the turning over, and a membrane laying apparatus, which lays a second membrane on the turned-over organic material.

A continuous membrane-covered aerobic fermentation system and an application method thereof are disclosed. The system comprises: a fermentation trough which is formed by underground walls of trough, above-ground walls of trough, and a trough bottom; a membrane changing machine configured for performing membrane uncovering, membrane laying, or membrane changing treatments on a semipermeable membrane covered on the fermentation trough and materials in the trough; a pile turning machine configured for direct turning and further mixing the materials under the membrane without uncovering the membrane, and gradually shifting and conveying the materials to another fixed position; and a condensate collecting system configured for continuously collecting the condensate on a inner surface of the semipermeable membrane in real time and guiding out the condensate.

A continuous membrane-covered aerobic fermentation system and an application method thereof are disclosed. The system comprises: a fermentation trough which is formed by underground walls of trough, above-ground walls of trough, and a trough bottom; a membrane changing machine configured for performing membrane uncovering, membrane laying, or membrane changing treatments on a semipermeable membrane covered on the fermentation trough and materials in the trough; a pile turning machine configured for direct turning and further mixing the materials under the membrane without uncovering the membrane, and gradually shifting and conveying the materials to another fixed position; and a condensate collecting system configured for continuously collecting the condensate on a inner surface of the semipermeable membrane in real time and guiding out the condensate.

In one embodiment there is provided a system and device for composting food waste and non-food waste compostable biopolymer materials together to create a compost.