Jonathan's Co., a family restaurant chain in Japan, will introduce food waste processors that can process up to 30 kilograms of food waste per day in 100 of its restaurants before the end of 2003. This step is in response to the country's new Food Recycling Law, which requires food-related enterprises to reduce their food waste by 20 percent by 2006. Counting the 11 restaurants with the machine already installed, by year-end Jonathan's will have them in 111 shops, or about 30 percent of the company's total.

The food waste processor, named "Chance," was developed jointly by Shitara Manufacturing. Co. and Jonathan's. By fermentation, decomposition, drying and volume reduction using heat and thermophilic bacteria, food waste can be compressed to 20 percent of its original weight. Vapor and volatile compounds are all kept inside the machine by using forced circulation, cooling, condensing, and extraction. There is no need to either add or replace the thermophilic bacteria, and the processed food waste can be used as compost material.

The processed food waste is being thrown away for the moment, but in the near future will be used as compost at the Izumi Noen Farm in Yamanashi Prefecture. By using the vegetables grown there at its own restaurants, Jonathan's expects to establish a complete recycling system.

The machine sells at a little less than one million yen (about U.S.$8,400), and its running cost, including the cost of the machine and electricity, is less than 20 yen (about U.S.$0.17) per kilogram of food waste. Compared to hauling and disposal costs before the introduction of this machine, this represents a cost saving. Other corporate members of the Japan Food Service Association are considering introducing the machine if the initiative at Jonathan's succeeds.



Posted: 2003/06/21 12:12:34 PM
Japanese version

TAG Food/Water , Manufacturing industry , Material reduction , Non-manufacturing industry , Technology