New Organics Co-Collection Method Receives US Patent/RNN

Composting organics works on many levels:  it takes a lot of waste out of our landfill;  it has many potential uses--fertilizer, energy production, etc; it creates new jobs.

One of the obstacles on doing composting on a large-scale basis has been the logistics of collecting and centralizing the supply.  This innovation moves us much closer to a statewide program.

Organix Solutions, an organics recovery and municipal solid waste company based in Minnesota, proudly announced it received a full patent for its organics co-collection program on June 6, 2017.  The utility patent US 9,669,431 B2 encompasses the compostable organic waste collection method and materials, establishing its patent portfolio that includes a proprietary product line of compostable bags. The first of its kind program, the patent covers the method of collecting and processing of compostable organic waste material.

Now a single waste collection vehicle can collect both organic waste and municipal solid waste (MSW) in a single trip. Eliminating the need for multiple trucks, on even a relatively small scale, has a significant environmental impact. 

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) evaluated the co-collection method as a separate waste stream and the independent third-party laboratory Aspen Research Corporation conducted its own research on the performance characteristics of the compostable bag as it traveled through the waste stream. Both confirmed that the compostable bags were strong enough to withstand compaction in a waste collection vehicle while preserving the organic waste for further processing.

These traits distinguish Organix Solutions’ Extreme Duty Green Bag Organix™ and Blue Bag Organics® compostable bags from other marketed liners.  “The absence of a compostable bag that could withstand compaction forces in a solid waste truck spurred our efforts to develop our own compostable bags,” said Jim Wollschlager, Organix Solutions’ CEO.  “In 2010 we introduced our co-collection program in Minnesota with our own Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI®) certified bags which have been absolutely integral to the overall success of our organic waste collection and composting program.” 

In 2014 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) reported 258 million tons of MSW were generated in the U.S.  About 37 million tons of that waste stream was organics (food waste) sent to landfill for permanent disposal.