The invention is directed to a process and equipment for use in a process to bacterially decompose organic waste to a dry composted end material wherein organic waste is composted in a composting tank in the presence of oxygen and aerobic bacteria to obtain a wet composted material. The wet composted material is partly removed from the composting tank and dried such to lower the water content of the composted material to obtain dry composted end material.

Provided is an expandable, modular tower planter having an internal vertical composting capability, and a method of assembling and using the same. Provided in various example embodiments is a modular composting garden container system comprising a base and a plurality of stackable rings forming a tower upon the base, including an optional base ring specially sized, shaped, and positioned to connect the tower to the base. A plurality of perforated, stackable tube sections are provided that are removably assembled into a compost tube assembly of selectable height and mounted within the interior of the tower and above the base. A plurality of holding struts are sized, shaped, and positioned to removably connect the compost tube assembly with the tower and to securely locate the compost tube assembly relative to the tower. Means are provided for recovering nutrient-rich drainage and selective recovery of compost material for reintroduction into the system.

The disclosure relates to a composting device including a housing defining an interior with an access opening providing access to the interior, a composter bin located within the interior and in communication with the access opening, and a funnel assembly integrated with the access opening.

A product, including digestate, that has been pasteurized through thermal hydrolysis, thermal alkaline hydrolysis, or thermal carbonization is cured to enhance its marketability. Variations of this disclosure include embodiments where pasteurized material is inoculated to further enhance marketability where the inoculation is performed by injecting a fungicide, other means of inoculation by injecting beneficial microorganisms to produce characteristics in digestate that are anti-fungal or produce suitable enzyme cofactors or nutrients to stabilize digestate, injections of vitamins to enhance the ability of plants grown using select digestate to thrive in adverse conditions, injection of chemicals to enhance the ability of digestate to retain heat and prevent freezing during wintry conditions, or any combination thereof. Other embodiments include using recycled waste heat generated from wastewater treatment or another process or solar energy for accelerating the drying process which occurs before, during or after curing.

A process for producing a commercial soil additive comprises mixing a compost composition with elementary (raw) sulphur to form a mixed material and turning the mixed material until it is substantially homogenous and until there is microbial oxidation of elementary sulphur therein to at least one sulphate.

A method of enhancing plant growth comprises a) selecting a mobile, self-contained system comprising a mobile structure, a vessel supported by the structure for receiving water and nutrients, a recirculating pump, a generator powering the pump, and a discharge line adapted for discharging contents of the vessel directly into an irrigation system; b) introducing into the vessel water and nutrient; c) moving the system; d) after moving, coupling the discharge line to an irrigation system or spray; and e) pumping the water and nutrient in the vessel with the pump out of the vessel through the discharge line directly into the irrigation system or spray.

The disclosure relates to a liquid reservoir for a food waste recycling appliance including a reservoir body with a hollow interior, a first arm portion, and a second arm portion, and at least partially bounding an interstitial space exterior of the reservoir body. A food waste through opening can be defined by an exterior surface of the reservoir body.

A process is disclosed for creating biologically active soil or horticulture media for growing plants, wherein a fibrous carbon source such as coconut coir in a predetermined particulate form is mixed with fertilizers and other biological nutrients, inoculated with a biologically active substance such as worm castings and then aged or cured in an oxygen rich aerobic process. After which additional nutrients can be added to tailor the aged media for a specific use. Various apparatus with which to conduct the aging process are also described. In a variation of the process used soil or horticulture media is recharged by first composting at a high temperature to remove harmful and unwanted items, its contents are evaluated, nutrients are added, and it is then aged in an aerobic process.

The present invention relates to an anaerobic column reactor for biodegradation of wastes. Particularly the present invention relates to a process for conversion of biodegradable wastes to biogas and compost. More particularly, the present invention relates to an anaerobic reactor with unique arrangement of expanded and constricted portions alternatively placed vertically over each other which enhances the mixing pattern and thereby the mass transfer rates while controlling the biomass washout by regulating the upflow liquid velocity.

A compost retention unit with removable partition is provided. The compost retention unit includes mesh retention material secured to interconnected frame structures such that the mesh retention material and the plurality of frame structures can cooperate to retain compost within the unit when the unit is fully assembled upon a generally flat surface. The removable partition can be secured to provide separate enclosures, and can be removed to facilitate transfer or turning of the compost. Preferably, the compost retention unit can be collapsed for storage or shipment and expanded to assemble the retention unit for use. Preferably the compost retention unit includes three rectangular frame structures which pivot to assemble the compost retention unit for use. Most preferably, the frame structures are made of four lengths of wooden two-by-four or two-by-six framing materials, and the mesh retention material is preferably a wire mesh material.