VEGETABLE WASTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25566, 20 June 1944, Page 6

VEGETABLE WASTE

DEHYDRATION AND PACKING PROCESSES PROBLEM OF UTILISATION (P.A.) , WELLINGTON, June 19. At the Internal Marketing Division’s dehydration and packing plants many tons of peelings and strippings accumulate each day, involving heavy expense for cartage: to dumps. Experiments are now being made in an endeavour to find a satisfactory way of making use of this wastage. The proposals include the conversion of the material into organic manure by the compost systme, drying for cattle food, and, in the case ,of cabbage leaves, which constitute the bulk of the strippings, dehydration for human consumption. The officer in charge of the division's fruit and vegetable section, Mr W. Benzies, said to-day that in preparing cabbages for export to the Pacific it was necessary to trim them down to a firm, tight heart, as the loose outer leaves contracted slime in cool storage. It was recognised that the outer leaves were rich in nourishment, and for that reason, as well as because of the heavy cost of dumping, some way of putting them to use was sought. At Hastings they were sent to piggeries, and given to people for private composting, but It was not long before those demands were satisfied and there still remained a surplus. Farmers at present appeared to have more than ample winter food for slock, and there was no demand for material for that purpose. The division Mr Benzies said, had consulted compost experts throughout New Zealand, and had constructed a set of compost bins at the Petone packing plant. There were 12 bins, each with a capacity of five to seven tons. A similar set of bins was now being constructed at Hastings. In the meantime experiments were being made by experts to find the best formula for compost. The magnitude of gny utilisation scheme decided on, Mr Benzies added, was such that caution was necessary. Accordingly other methods of disposal were being investigated. One was to convert the material into a dried form for cattle food. Another proposal was to cut the waste cabbage leaves into strips and dehydrate them for human consumption. This applied, of course, only to the nutritious leaves.

If composting was decided on, Mr Benzies concluded, the finished manure would be supplied to gardeners, nurserymen and farmers at cost price.