Circular economy: ENEA patents innovative domestic composter to handle organic waste

ENEA has patented an innovative environment-friendly composter to convert household food waste into compost with high agronomic qualities. The device saves the energy needed to activate the aerobic process and cuts the cost for waste disposal.

“The composter utilizes a power generation system with a photovoltaic panel inserted in the structure which powers the ventilation system, with a small electrical resistance for pre-heating the incoming material. Thanks to temperature control it is also possible to accelerate the process in cold weather", Daniele Fiorino at the ENEA Department of Sustainability of Productive and Territorial Systems, explained.

The composter is equipped with 3 chambers placed vertically, separated by removable panels that allow the transfer of the material by gravity. Inside it has a material handling system, a fresh air supply system that uses the heat contained in the gases released during the  organic matter degradation, and a bio-filter to reduce the odors emitted from the gases generated.

"We wanted to create an actual household appliance: we developed a stand-alone version thanks to the integration of a photovoltaic panel in the opening cover, that can be  positioned on a balcony or a garden. Being a watertight domestic composter, it prevents bad odors from escaping due to mixing and / or air introduction, so it can also be used indoors, directly connected to the power grid ”,  Daniele Fiorino said.

The amount of waste processed by the prototype is about 5 kg / day, but smaller prototypes are being built for household use only.

Thanks to domestic composting it is possible to reduce the volumes of the organic fraction of the waste, consisting mainly of water, and therefore the cost for  collecting and handling it. Once fully operational, this would entail a reduction in waste disposal tariffs.

"The composter is a formidable domestic tool  on the way to the circular economy because it converts waste into a resource (compost), it allows equivalent CO2 savings in the integrated urban waste management chain and it guarantees self- management of waste, helping individual users cutting back fees. After the testing stage, we are working at improving its design to fit well with the home environment", Maria Velardi of the ENEA Sustainability Department of Productive and Territorial Systems concluded.

The composter is TRL-7 (Technological Maturity Level),  which, on a scale from 1 to 9,  indicates a prototype tested in an operational environment.

For more information please contact:

Maria Velardi, ENEA - Sustainability of Productive and Territorial Systems  Department,  maria.velardi@enea.it

Daniele Fiorino, ENEA – Sustainability of Productive and Territorial Systems  Department, daniele.fiorino@enea.it