The depackager consists of the intake trough (left) and the separator mechanism (right).
Our state-of-the-art de-packaging machine was the first of its kind in the Northeast, and now many of our partner farm-based digesters are also using this technology. Here’s how it works: the de-pack is comprised of a network of paddles and screens that work in unison to separate expired or damaged packaged food from its plastic, metal, styrofoam, or cardboard containers. The resulting food waste slurry is then mixed with the cow manure and digested into renewable energy. This cutting-edge technology makes it easy to recycle food waste that otherwise (because of its packaging) might end up in a landfill. Even better – the packaging material that is captured from the process is also diverted, meaning that everything we collect, we keep out of the landfill.