Food Waste Disposal

The manufacturing of food items is a process that must be accomplished by adhering to strict controls of both the local and Federal food regulatory agencies. The items of food that are manufactured in this country are as varied as the people they serve. Common staples, exotic delicacies, snack foods and ethnic specialities are all food items that go through a controlled and precise manufacturing process with safety always at the forefront.

All manufactured food must meet certain quality standards. Anything that does not meet the standards required has to be regarded as food waste. Even when everything goes right; the equipment used in the processing of the food must be washed down and disinfected. This washdown water cannot be discharged down the sewer. Every area has different requirements as to the effluent that is allowed to go down the drain. If a company is out of compliance, they may have to pay a large surcharge for non-compliance.

Whether it be the washdown water, defective food stuffs, or slurrys from the processing facilities; all forms of food waste must be segregated and be disposed of properly. Progressive Environmental Services prides itself in offering to the food industry different types of waste disposal methods while always keeping recycling at the forefront. Nothing is ever landfilled.

Sometimes the waste is hauled away by Progressive Environmental Services and taken to farms for recycling. Depending upon the type of waste; some of it is used as feed for farm animals. Other times, if the waste is in a liquid state, it might be applied to the raw farm land as a fertilizer. Progressive Environmental Services employs several million gallon tanks for the application of the liquid waste. This co-mingled liquid is applied and injected into farmland, which enhances the nitrogen balance of the land.

Cattle, sheep, pigs and other animals are used to consume some food wastes. Only certain types of foods are given to animals. Like kind of food wastes are never given to the same kind of animal that generated the waste, i.e. as from a slaughter house. This prevents any transmission of communicable diseases. Other types of food waste may be best used as compost feed. Our expertise will determine the most economical and environmentally best application for the waste.

Most of the manufacturing facilities discharge waters after they are treated on site. Those waters usually contain fats, oils and grease. All of the these type of manufacturers have grease traps to capture the fats, oils and grease (FOG's).

Progressive Environmental Services employs over 70 trucks, many with vacuum capability to suck out the FOG's (fats, oils, and greases) and then water jet the lines coming from the manufacturing building in order to keep the lines free and running as well as environmental compliant. This allows the manufacturing facility to comply with the discharge requirements of the local Sanitary District that governs them. And this allows them to keep operating.

We make sure that the food manufacturing companies are always in compliance so that they do not risk being shut down by the local regulatory agencies. Off spec foods, food slurries, waste waters, grease traps and even washdown rinse waters are all items that Progressive Environmental Services takes care of on a regular routine basis. We set the schedule and stand ready should emergencies occur.

Food wastes are one of Progressive Environmental Services' specialities. We are proud to serve the food manufacturers of America.