The bio bin is getting closer - this is how you want to solve the odor problem

Created: 04/30/2022, 10:10 am

By: Thomas Steinhardt

A filter lid is intended to increase acceptance of the organic bin among the general public.

© Biologic

The introduction of an organic waste bin, which has been discussed for some time, is getting a little closer: the responsible works committee of the district council has now agreed on a few key points.

Among other things, a filter cover on the bin should eliminate odors.

Fürstenfeldbruck - In principle, the waste management company (AWB) of the district wants to collect more kitchen waste than before in order to then use it to generate energy.

Because a lot of kitchen waste still ends up in the residual waste.

At the same time, the separation of garden and kitchen waste should be maintained.

Because the green waste collection system is considered good, as explained by Stefan Mayer, head of the district's own AWB.

Financing through the fee

There was broad agreement in the works committee that the organic waste bin for kitchen waste should be financed through the normal waste fee.

In addition, nobody should be forced to put an organic bin in front of their door - it remains voluntary.

The idea of ​​compulsory connection was briefly discussed, but immediately rejected.

Permission for self-composting is now provided for in the law, said Stefan Mayer.

In addition, he did not want to force anyone to put a bin on the property, which would then also have to be monitored and punishable by law.

It should be emptied every 14 days.

To make this possible, the bins should have an odour-inhibiting bio-filter lid (see below).

The size of the containers

It still has to be decided whether to offer 40 or 60 liter bins.

However, the 40-liter container is likely, although in reality the two bin sizes hardly differ, depending on the manufacturer.

It was agreed that citizens should also be able to order a larger bin.

The problem of barrel houses was briefly discussed in committee.

These are not standardized, so the AWB cannot use any box sizes as a guide when selecting the waste containers.

Many bio bins will therefore probably one day be next to the existing houses, AWB boss Mayer speculated.

New calculation

In this context, the AWB hopes that home composters will also get hold of the bio bin.

After all, kitchen waste does not belong in the garden compost.

Waste management officer Jakob Drexler (UBV) wanted to speak of a "bio-energy bin".

The reference to the energy relevance of kitchen waste could increase acceptance of the ton.

Their introduction is planned for January 1, 2025.

By then, the AWB must also have submitted a new fee calculation, as the current prices only apply until 2024.

The decisions were unanimous.

With the bin, the previously customary organic waste bags, which are becoming more and more expensive to obtain, are no longer required.

Also, because they tend to get tattered, they weren't popular with everyone.

Those responsible therefore invented the organic bin to protect the paper sacks, which was ridiculed by some.

The filter cover and how it works

In user discussions, one aspect always comes up in connection with the compost bin: the stench.

The AWB (waste management company) wants to counter this with filter covers.

They have a double seal all around.

The filter material consists of a substrate made of coconut fibers that are “inoculated” with microorganisms, according to an AWB paper.

The lids are intended to prevent putrefactive gases from escaping and flies from getting into the bins to lay their eggs.

The digester gases in the bin are to be broken down by micro-organisms and enzymes in the filter and released into the environment with no odor.

The lids are intended to make the bins more pleasant to use and to increase public acceptance.

According to the AWB, the lid offers a good alternative to weekly emptying, which entails higher transport costs.

The compostable filter has to be changed every two years, but citizens can do this themselves.

The company Biologic, licensor for the filters, reports very good experiences in other circles.