ISS has furthered its commitment to sustainability at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital with the installation of a PRM food waste digestor. Previously, around eight tonnes of food waste each month (the weight of four cars) was taken away from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital by waste contractors. Now, as part of a commitment to sustainability, a food digestor has been installed which will recycle all of the hospital’s food waste on site.
Inside the digestor - a PRM P500 Bio-Processor - the waste is broken down using oxygen and friendly microbes. This natural microbial process produces its own heat which reduces the electrical energy required to power the machine, making it one of the most energy efficient food digestors on the market. The result is a volume reduction of around 80% and an end substrate which looks and feels like dry soil and can be blended with compost to create a valuable soil nutrient.
Mark Leith, Assistant Logistics Manager for ISS, which manages the site, explained the plan for this substrate. “Some will be used on the hospital’s gardens and some will be given to local gardening and allotment societies, continuing the Trust’s work with our community,” he says. “Any remaining substrate will be collected by a waste contractor on an ad hoc basis. This is likely to save more than two thirds on the cost of refuse collection as well as create a more environmentally friendly infrastructure with less diesel fuelled trucks traveling back and forth.”
With sustainability a priority for the site, the Bio-Processor’s ability to show how much carbon has been locked up and saved from being released into the atmosphere is an important one. It’s something Mark is passionate about. “We can’t wait to collate the reports and share exactly how much we’ve reduced our carbon emissions by. I’m proud we’re playing a part in mitigating future climate change and it’s something that my colleagues are really getting behind too.”
When asked how his colleagues are finding using the new equipment Mark comments on how easy is to use. “The catering team have already taken well to the machine, it’s very simple to use and extremely hygienic. They just push a button to lift the lid, tip the waste in and close the lid, then the machine does its thing. It’s all very low maintenance and the whole process makes handling food waste a much more pleasant experience for everyone.”
