A Singapore firm with a technology that turns food waste into clean water signed new agreements on Tuesday to forge ahead with its global expansion.
The privately held Eco-Wiz signed three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) worth nearly USD10 million on the sidelines of this week’s WasteMet Summit in Singapore.
Singapore-based Lyfpod Holdings will spend USD5 million over the next few years to introduce Eco-Wiz food waste technology to the Indian market, starting with Goa and Mumbai. Lyfpod provides renewable energy and solid waste treatment technologies throughout Asia Pacific.
Eco-Wiz marketing manager Angela Cai said that after developing a track record for the technology within India – where government support for cleantech is strong - the two firms may start a joint venture to build a factory for the units in India.
Norway and Singapore-based Norsing, a European distributor for environment-friendly tableware and food waste disposal systems, extended its year-long relationship with Eco-Wiz with an MoU for USD3 million.
Norsing said that Eco-Wiz’s continuous research and development ensures their products stay competitive.
For the local market, Eco-Wiz signed an agreement with Singapore cleaning services and facilities management firm Weishen Industrial Services, which plans to promote the technology as a cleaner, more hygienic`option for handling food waste at its clients’ premises.
On-site waste disposal eliminates the need for storing food waste, which attracts pests and emits unpleasant odours, because it can be thrown directly into the system for recycling, said Ms Cai.
The portable ecoDigesters use microbes to break down food waste on-site in a 24-hour process that produces water - labelled as non-potable unless modifications are made - and a small amount of sediment in the filters. Eco-Wiz technicians remove about 2.5 centimetres of sediment from the filters every three to four months.
Ms Cai noted that the on-site food recycling saves on the costs and fuel emissions for hauling and disposing of food waste. Food waste is one of the heaviest - and thus most expensive - types of waste to haul because of its high water content.
“For customers who purchase our 1-tonne system, according to Singapore waste disposal fees, it will take them less than three years to recoup the purchase #ost,” she added.
No nutrients are recovered from the process – those are used by the microbes – but the company also makes an ecoComposter for customers who want to produce compost on-site from their food waste.
About 20 units with capacities ranging from 100 kilogrammes to 1 tonne per day have been sold to local hotels, canteens, supermarkets and restaurants in Singapore over the past two years.
Marina Bay Sands hotel and convention centre, the venue for the four day WasteMet conference, has two 1-tonne units costing about S$70,000 each.
The hotel may soon have much more company.
“We are getting a lot of interest from Thailand – where we have set up an office - China, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, USA, Italy, Brazil and other countries,” said Ms Cai.
