Any Ideas? Disposing of Spray-Dried Cheese Powders

[domskimatt]

I'm doing some contract work for a dairy foods R&D facility. My task is to develop an organic waste collection program for the facility. I'm working with a farmer who collects dairy waste, but only if it is completely free of packaging.

I've been able to get a handle on other cheese products produced here, but the powders are giving me trouble. The powders are kept in 90 gram plastic bags and must be dumped into the collection bins if they are to be taken by this farm.

The problem is that lab techs can't just tip these bags over and dump them into the bins, simply because the powder will get airborne and cause problems.

Whether it's adding water to these bags before dumping them or something else, I'm struggling to think of a good solution that won't take up too much time.


Does anyone have any ideas? I'd appreciate the input.

 

[bimr]

Don't think there is any inexpensive way to do this. You have an elevation issue. Try one of the loading hoppers.

http://www.metalfabinc.com/pages/pr-14.html

 

[micalbrch]

What about a tank or hopper with water in it, equipped with a stirrer and the whole tank covered with an opening (with hand cover) and then tip the bags over? After a certain time you get a viscous (or even pasty) mix of water and cheese which can be used by the farmer you mentioned. Whether practicak or not depends upon the quantity of bags per hour or day. That determines also the size of the tank and the costs.

 

[bimr]

Putting it into solution is not going to stop the dust problem when you break the bag open. How would you propose to move the solution? The farmer would probably prefer a dry mix.

The bag dumping stations come with bag breakers when you close the lid and a blower to suck the dust up.

http://www.ktronpremier.com/pneumatic_conveying_components/Hoppers_and_Bins/Bag_Dump_Station.cfm

The only problem is cost. It probably would be less expensive to pay extra to the farmer to have him break the bags on his time.

 

[domskimatt]

Thanks for the input. Hoping I can get the farm collection service to accept bagged powders.