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Waste can be broadly categorized into organic and inorganic fractions.
Four significant components of this organic, biodegradable stream
are from food preparation, agricultural production, livestock manures,
and municipal sewage sludge.
The costs of waste management planning and implementation continue
to increase. Current waste disposal options (landfills, incineration, waste to energy and
composting) have their limitations and their own environmental problems:
Incineration
2. Agricultural Waste Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K) are needed for healthy plant growth. However, today's agricultural practices rely on water-soluble minerals to provide a complete source of nutrition to plants by way of chemical fertilizer inputs. Sufficient evidence demonstrates that conventional crop management practices are reducing soil biological diversity year by year, destroying soil structure, and increasing disease pressure. As this diversity decreases, the need for more nutrients increases, possibly explaining why today 300% more chemical fertilizer is applied than 40 years ago to achieve the same yield. In addition, the increased occurrence of major plant diseases has been linked to the reduction of biological activity in soils and the consequent unhealthy and susceptible crops grown in them. Earlier it was not possible to integrate organic fertilizers into modern industrial agriculture equipment and practices. Specialty organic products have made significant inroads, but have been unavailable to commercial growers because of insufficient production, inconsistent supply, and instability of product. While compost is widely available, its variable quality and lack of scientific data has resulted in poor performance confidence. In addition, conventional crop production methods demand physical forms compatible with modern equipment. The potential for contaminants in composts, whether pathogens or inorganic waste materials, the volumes required for plant response, and the inability to transport over great distances, has created resistance in the marketplace. 3. Livestock Waste Recently, there have been many environmental and health concerns over the disposal of agricultural manures from industrial farms. High concentration of livestock waste in farm areas has resulted in contamination of aquifers and wells that supply drinking water to surrounding communities. Improper disposal of manures has been linked to numerous deaths and illnesses due to:
In many jurisdictions municipal sewage sludge does not pose the same risks as livestock waste, as it is usually treated before disposal, however, some real concerns and public perception problems still remain over the safety of the final product due to:
Governments, producers, and society need a waste disposal solution that is economic, and efficient, and that doesn't add further environmental pressures to the growing world. Practical solutions are required to the problems caused by intensive farming practices, and the increasing dependency on agro-chemical inputs. For those seeking new ways to cope with increasing volumes of biodegradable waste and sludge, IBR offers a unique and effective solution. The Solution Until now, traditional methods of treating biodegradables have been unable to effectively process waste containing high quantities of contaminants. IBR's EATAD technology effectively processes wet organic waste, reducing the negative environmental impacts created by decomposing organic matter in landfills. IBR's conversion process is remarkable in its ability to continually and successfully process organic waste materials with up to 10% non-biodegradables in its mix. The resulting products are clean, uniform, and pathogen-free for use in commercial agriculture. Use of IBR's products will:
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