The reasonable objections to having a biodigester in a kitchen are predictable: if there is organic matter decomposing inside, won’t it smell, attract vermin and break as soon as a fork falls into it? These are three legitimate concerns, and the answer to each is a specific control system.
1. Odour: aerobic versus anaerobic
The starting point is that the unpleasant odour of decomposing organic matter is produced mainly by bacteria anaerobic, those that function without oxygen. This is what happens in a sealed container.
An aerobic digester does exactly the opposite: the agitator and paddle arms constantly aerate the mixture, maintaining a continuous supply of oxygen. By boosting aerobic activity, anaerobic bacteria are eliminated, and with them the odour. The Biorgmax medium itself contributes to this effect. That is why the equipment data sheet describes the cycle as «continuous, odourless».
And just in case, a sensor
Chemical prevention alone is not enough to guarantee protection, so there is a second layer of defence. The system incorporates a built-in odour sensor that continuously monitors the air inside the unit, detecting odours at all levels. When it identifies unpleasant odours, it automatically activates the deodorisation system immediately.
Furthermore, the system sends real-time notifications to users’ and administrators’ devices. No one needs to be standing in front of the machine keeping an eye on it.
2. Pests: tackle the cause, not the symptom
Rodents and insects do not appear by chance: they appear because there is an accumulation of accessible food. A pest control contract treats the symptom; a digester eliminates the cause.
Once the stored waste has been removed — and with it the smell that acts as an attractant — the reason why pests are drawn to the waste area disappears. It is a change of approach: it is not a question of protecting the rubbish better, but of not having it in the first place.
3. Metal objects: what really breaks the machine
This is the real, everyday risk. In any canteen, sooner or later a fork or spoon ends up in the bin. Inside a chamber with a rotating shaft and paddle arms moving continuously, a hard object can cause quite a lot of damage.
The solution involves the intelligent detection of foreign, hard and metallic objects using current-to-weight ratio. The idea is ingenious: if the motor starts to draw a current that does not correspond to the weight of the material inside, something is presenting an abnormal resistance. The system interprets this as an anomaly and takes action before any damage occurs.
Everything is managed via a unified HMI that connects weight, flow and material level sensors to a PLC controller, which in turn controls the actuators: the mixer, the alarm and the stop.
The fourth checkpoint, the one you can’t see
There is a fourth system which does not address any objections but underpins the other three: enzyme control. A peristaltic pump dispenses the precise amount of enzyme solution in a controlled manner during each cycle, with a level sensor monitoring the microbial solution reservoir.
Maintaining an optimal microbial balance is what ensures consistent and efficient digestion. And consistent digestion is, ultimately, the reason why there is no odour or build-up of waste.
And the emergency strike
In addition to all the automation features, the control panel includes an emergency stop switch and an alarm light. The equipment is CE marked in accordance with EN ISO 12100:2010 — machine safety — and EN 60204-1, as well as RoHS, OIML and NTEP.
You can see the rest of the features in the DR300 technical specifications.
