The collaboration between (AEL) and Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) began in 2011 on the sole manufacturer and sales partner on food waste composting systems. In 2015, AEL was invited to take part in the construction of HKPC’s FTR “Total Food Waste Recycling System” with a capacity of 50 kg per day at Hong Kong, receiving excellent results and winning multiple awards.
With the success achieved, AEL and HKPC further designed and constructed a pilot plant in Zhuhai, China with a capacity of 1 tonne per day in 2017. Operation commenced in mid-2018 where on-site food waste collection and treatment were conducted to test and demonstrate the commercial operation of the food waste recycling system.
With the system, food waste is converted into biogas with high methane content, fish/animal feed materials rich in protein and floatable oil for biodiesel production. The total conversion of waste into products with high market values demonstrates complete resource utilization. The system also utilized a patented automatic pre-treatment unit where non-biodegradable items are sorted out. A subsequent 2-stage anaerobic digestion system separates food waste decomposition and methanogensis into two bioreactors, effectively treating food waste with high oil content and producing an increased biogas yield.