How to recycle organic waste?

by greenzy | 9 Mar, 2022 | Compost, Science

How to recycle organic waste?

You want to compost but you don't know which type of composting is the most adapted to your needs? Don't panic, we've decided to explain some of the different ways to recycle your organic waste so that you can see more clearly! First we will talk about the outdoor composter, then we will look at the dehydrator and finally we will finish with the Greenzy indoor composter.

Composting?

First of all, what is composting? Composting is a process where organic waste is transformed into compost by the presence of micro-organisms.

What to put as waste?

Basically, any organic material can be put into any type of compost. You can put fruit and vegetable peelings, eggshells, paper towels and tissues (without inks and perfumes), leftover food such as pasta, rice, etc. On the other hand, bones, shells, cores, dairy products, florists' flowers (containing chemicals) and synthetic materials should be avoided. Meat is also a carrier of disease!

The outdoor composter

We will now analyse the outdoor composter. For people who have an outdoor space, this is the most common composting practice. You need a shady place to pile up all your organic waste, respecting the essential rules of composting to obtain quality compost: turn the compost from time to time to aerate it well, make a good mixture between brown waste and green waste to have a good carbon/nitrogen ratio and nature takes care of the rest. The reasons are that the composting process suffers from temperature changes and bad weather. You will have to wait 6 to 12 months before you can enjoy the mature compost. With the outdoor composter, you may be bothered by unwanted odours and visits from rodents.

The dehydrator

Let's move on to the dehydrator. The result of the dehydrators is an organic waste powder that is obtained by grinding the organic waste and heating it to dehydrate it. This method consumes a lot of energy and has the consequence of killing all living organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, micro-organisms). The powder obtained can be put into the plants, where it will rehydrate. It will then be decomposed by the living organisms in the environment to finally feed the plant.

In contrast, compost will retain its living organisms. These organisms will decompose the material directly, providing the plant with nutrients and a structural material filled with these small organisms. All this will be beneficial to the plant.

The Greenzy indoor composter

Speaking of compost, let's finish with Greenzy composting. Greenzy mainly tries to eliminate the current inconveniences of outdoor composting. First of all, you don't have to go out in your garden anymore, you can compost in the comfort of your home. Moreover, thanks to the connected application "Greenzy" you don't need to know anything about composting, you just have to follow the instructions of the application. Then, thanks to the oxygen composting technique used by Greenzy, you won't have to worry about odours. Finally, Greenzy has been designed for a family of 1 to 4 people, so that it is easily repairable, fun and eco-responsible. It requires an investment of €499 to purchase, which will pay for itself by buying fewer bins. Do you have more questions? The FAQ contains lots of answers to questions here.

We hope that we have been able to help you make a better choice about composting. Feel free to follow us on the various social networking platforms to learn more or leave a comment if you have any questions!

Comparison_Greenzy_composter_indoor_outdoor_dehydrator

Become a real compost expert! Understand in 2 key steps

by Margot | 3 Sep, 2021 | Compost

Become a real compost expert! Understand in 2 key steps

We'll start by giving you a simple overview because if you're here, it's because you really want to compost indoors. When you compost it's always interesting to know how it works. So what exactly happens when your vegetable peelings turn into rich soil in which you give life to new plants? We'll explain it all to you. If you've done your homework, you'll have noticed that there are several ways to compost indoors:

The vermicomposter (the one with the worms inside)
The Greenzy smart composter

At Greenzy the so-called composting method is used aerobic. This method is in contrast to anaerobic composting. So that you can understand the difference, we have made a comparative table.

Aerobic Composting (Greenzy composter and vermicomposter)	Anaerobic Composting (A poorly maintained outdoor compost pile)
- Demand for oxygen -Process fast (2 months maximum with the Greenzy composter) - Product of the heat - Gases released : Carbon dioxide	- Process without oxygen - Processes slow - Produces almost no heat no heat - Gases released: carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen sulphide (that's what smells like rotten eggs)

The little trick : Aerobic compost that smells bad is simply that it is being transformed into anaerobic compost because it lacks air. To remedy this, it is not necessary to give it "mouth-to-mouth" but simply to aerate it 😉

The Greenzy composter needs oxygen, but with it there is no risk of bad odours. We have put in place well thought out mechanisms so that you never have to worry about this!If you've heard of the Bokashi, the traditional Japanese method that is increasingly used here, and you're wondering why it's not on the list, it's because it's not really a composter. In fact, this solution uses a process of its own. The main differences with the indoor composters we mentioned are the following:

Result of a fermentation and not a degradation.
Requires theaddition of "bokashi bran" which will serve as an activator.
The result is not compost but a fertilizer .
The fertiliser produced cannot be used immediately, it must be mixed with soil or compost for 4 weeks. 4 weeks . Only then can you put in your beautiful plants or use it in your vegetable garden.

Now that you know a little more, we'll explain what happens in your favourite peel-eater so that it can offer you this precious soil after 2 months of waiting. Who lives in your compost? The design of the Greenzy composter has not only seduced you, but also many micro-organisms are there every day and work non-stop to offer you a super quality soil! There are 3 main families of inhabitants:

The bacteria - We're talking about good bacteria here, of course, like when you hear about bacteria in your yoghurt or even in your body.
Mushrooms
Actinomycetes

But what exactly do they do there? That's what we'll tell you right now: 1st step, they degrade Not great these tenants, as soon as they arrive they make a mess... No worries, trust them, the result will be great, I promise! Turn on the heater! During this first phase the microorganisms raise the temperature in your composter! The bacteria produce heat, a lot of heat, your composter becomes a real sauna for peelings and bacteria. The thermometer rises to 60 to 70°C Waste reduction. Now that everything has heated up it is time to make room. The waste is very bulky so the microorganisms reduce it by 3 times their size! But how? Thanks to 2 phenomena:

The mineralisation of organic matter into CO2.
Evaporation of water . Your organic waste contains a lot of water and with the heat in there it evaporates.

Greenzy's little plus: this water, also called "compost tea" or "compost juice" disappears without you even having to empty it or worry about it. This is different from the two other solutions mentioned above. Isn't that nice? Result of the degradation stage. After all this work your composter will contain fresh compost, but be patient, there is still some work to be done before you can open your drawer and discover the final result. 2nd stage, maturation From the moment the waste is transformed into fresh compost then the decomposition process becomes slower. The micro-organisms continue to act to change from fresh compost to ripe compost. The temperature is the same as on a summer's day in southern Spain, i.e. between 35° and 40°C . Then the mushrooms and actinomycetes move into your favourite smart composter. They attack the fresh compost left behind by the bacteria and turn it into mature compost.

the 3rd step?

It's up to you. All you have to do is open the drawer of your composter and get your good soil thanking all the microorganisms that have worked hard to bring it to you. If you don't know what to do with it, we suggest you read our article on flower gardensWe'll give you some ideas of cool plants that will help pollinators around you 😉 If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to contact us, we'll be happy to answer you!

Sources
http://humusetassocies.org/espace-info-biodechets/les-organismes-decomposeurs/ http://reseauriam.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ft_compostefr.pdf https://www.rustica.fr/jardin-bio/bokashi-compost-fermente,16764.html

What can I put in the indoor composter?

by greenzy | 30 Jul, 2021 | Compost, Ecology

What can I put in the indoor composter?

« Pain compost », « peau de banane compost », « kiwi compost », « coquille de noix compost », « que mettre dans un composteur », etc<
Professionnel ou débutant, vous êtes nombreux à demander à Google ce que vous pouvez ou non mettre dans votre composteur. Aujourd’hui, on vous donne les réponses !

This is even more of a challenge for those who live in a flat and have an interest in indoor composting, but are afraid of the inconvenience it can cause

To make it easier for you, we've put together this little guide that explains what you should and shouldn't put in an indoor composter like the one Greenzy offers. Yes, not all kitchen waste goes into an indoor composter.

Your composter will love it...

Fruit and vegetable peelings
Coffee grounds and filters
Vegetable garden waste such as spoiled fruit and vegetable tops
Paper towels and tissues only if they are ink and fragrance free
Some leftover meals such as pasta, rice, stale bread...
Old composting soil
Tea bags and infusions
Eggshells
Dairy products that are not too liquid and cheese rinds
Peels from citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits...
Fresh herbs
...

A few tips

Avoid putting anything like pits, nutshells or seafood shells in the composter. With the Greenzy composter, hard shells can break the grinder and with other indoor composters, shells may not be composted.

Eat a varied diet and avoid putting just one of the above in the composter in large quantities if you want good compost. As they say in the TV commercials, eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day😉

Your composter will not digest...

Chicken because it is full of diseases
Frying oils
Oyster, mussel or walnut shells because anything that is too hard will not break down
The flowers in the shop because they are full of toxic products
Animal excrements (litter...) and human faeces (nappies)
Cigarette butts
Remains of meat and bones, fish including bones, shrimp carcasses... to avoid pests and bad smells
Coal ash, barbecue ash, chimney soot
Fruit and vegetable labels
...

A few tips

In general, all non-organic waste such as glass, plastic, metal, etc. should be avoided. Toxic waste such as printed cardboard, coloured printed matter (magazines, journals, etc.), glossy paper, fabrics, etc. should also be avoided.

Also avoid putting in the Greenzy indoor composter anything from the garden such as dead leaves, wood ashes, sawdust and wood shavings, dead leaves and grass clippings... These wastes could take up a lot of space and prevent you from using the composter for a while. And, as we said, the composter also likes to eat a variety of foods!

The above list is not exhaustive, but it is a good start.

Do you want to make compost in your flat or inside your house? Greenzy has found the ideal solution for you. In addition to being design, the Greenzy indoor composter is guaranteed to be odourless and insect-free.

Compost Memo

Sources
https://www.consoglobe.com/compost-erreurs-eviter-2398-cg
https://zerocarabistouille.be/2016/04/27/defi-5-jai-du-bon-compost-dans-ma-compostiere-jai-du-bon-compost-tu-en-auras-plein/
https://www.monpetitcoinvert.com/blog/dossier-le-compost-pour-les-nuls/
https://greenzy.eu/?lang=fr
https://ledouavert.wordpress.com/composteur-collectif/

Let's not be ashamed of our flower gardens!

by greenzy | June 24, 2021 | Compost, Ecology

Let's not be ashamed of our flower gardens!

Stop mowing your garden to help the planet? A solution that can ease the guilt of the busiest of us who can't keep a perfect lawn all summer. Although this idea may seem surprising, stopping mowing your lawn can help our little friends the pollinators. These are becoming increasingly rare due to pollution. A good way to bring them back is to offer them beautiful flowers to forage on. So why not leave your lawn cut to the millimetre and let nature take over? This is what is known as the free garden.

If you want to start a free garden you need to know the basics! But don't worry, we'll explain it to you so it doesn't get too complicated. It starts with just let nature do its jobYou don't have to show her what to do, she knows it better than anyone! The rest is no more difficult, you have to make room for the native plants.

For the record, native plants are those that grow naturally in your garden, like daisies for example.

Finally, to work hand in hand with Mother Nature you can also use your shovel and potting soil to grow perennials ! Perennials are plants that will grow back naturally for at least 2 years after planting. An idea to use that good potting soil you have at the bottom of the garden while giving the pollinators new flowers to feast on.

Here are some ideas for perennials to complement your new garden.

To do good for the Planet and your food

With aromatic plants	With fruit and vegetables
Thyme Rosemary Laurel Sage Celery Oregano Green sorrel Mint - Be careful not to be overrun, why not plant it in a pot? Wasabi daruma Tarragon Chives Mallow - A little information: This pretty plant can be cooked like spinach, which has long been the case near the Pyrenees.	Perpetual leek Onion rocambole Garlic rocambole Rhubarb ribbed Asparagus Strawberry Not forgetting the fruit trees!

To make your garden bloom

... in summer	... and in winter
Lavender - + 1 point for its sweet smell Dianthus Delosperma Periwinkle Daisies Coreopsis Agapanthus Heuchera Perennial Geranium Iris	Christmas Rose Chrysanthemums Winter Heather Aster and Dwarf Aster Cyclamen Eragrostis Primeval

However, beware of certain species of perennials. Many species can charm you with their pretty foliage, but beware that they can be invasive. Invasive plants have no qualms about multiplying and taking over your new outdoor paradise, even killing off your favourite natives.

Here's a little memo to help you learn more about invasive species in Belgium and play superhero by protecting the lives of your beloved plants.

The little info Some invasive plants are exotic plants that have been introduced by man.

The memo is far from being exhaustive, so for you to be really well informed about invasive plants in Belgium, we leave you the complete list: invasive plants in Belgium. This list presents all the plants that you should watch out for in your garden, so don't hesitate to click on the name of the one that intrigues you to get more information about it.

This article was inspired by an action carried out in Belgium: "In May, mow to the stop". Le Vif, in partnership with the Adalia association and the Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech faculty (ULiège), encouraged garden owners to leave their lawnmowers in the wardrobe during the month of May in order to observe the reaction of biodiversity. On this occasion, the BioPlanner platform was created to list the garden and biodiversity areas and also to give advice on what to plant and how.

What a nice surprise to see the following figures after 1 month of experience!

Infographic in May Mowing at a standstill

Now that you've got the basics, don't hesitate to put your lawnmower away for the summer and keep yourself informed for the 2022 edition ofIn May mowing at a standstill.

To find out about all the native plants in Belgium: click here

Sources
https://www.dmag.fr/fr/inspiration/jardin-nature-libre
https://conseil.manomano.fr/les-23-plantes-vivaces-les-plus-communes-n4226
https://www.aromatiques.fr/108-plantes-aromatiques-vivaces
http://biodiversite.wallonie.be/fr/gerer-les-plantes-invasives.html?IDC=5706
https://www.levif.be/actualite/environnement/en-mai-tonte-a-l-arret-comment-vos-jardins-ont-aide-la-nature/article-normal-1434949.html?utm_source=website&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=EMTAL

Learning while having fun: composting and children!

by greenzy | May 5, 2021 | Children, Compost, Ecology

Learning while having fun: composting and children!

As our children are the future of our planet, it is more necessary than ever that they understand and protect their environment. What would be a regular activity that could reconnect them to biodiversity while having fun? Composting!

The benefits of composting for the younger generation
Composting means giving back to the earth what it has given us. Teaching children to compost allows them to understand the richness that nature offers us, while becoming familiar with how it works. It also makes them realise the importance of limiting non-organic waste.

In addition, children can have fun with little learning games such as knowing what is biodegradable and what is not, or knowing how to carefully collect organic waste that they can use to enrich their own compost, for example. A game that helps to remember compostable foods is the cordless phone game; biodegradable version! Another great family activity is to plant a pumpkin seed (which loves the nutrients in compost) and watch it grow before you can cook your own pumpkins. The kids might also surprise you with their imagination in an activity that involves creating recipes to make with some of the organic waste, such as a leek green pie or vegetable peelings chips.

Once the compost is transformed into potting soil, the children will be able to create their own small vegetable gardens, an activity that appeals to children (who are curious by nature) and that will benefit them by developing their patience, creativity, concentration and knowledge of the subject, while having fun!

Greenzy composters used by children

It was during the testing phases of our composters, in families with children, that we really realised how much they enjoyed the activity of looking after a compost. We asked them what they liked best about creating compost, and they told us that they loved shredding the organic waste, mixing it, and watching it grow inside our smart composters.

Greenzy strives every day for a better environmental future, and is confident that future generations will have a role in preserving our biodiversity!

Greenzy is recruiting!

by greenzy | 6 Jan, 2021 | Business, Compost, Ecology, Technology

Greenzy is recruiting!

GREENZY IS RECRUITING A CMO AND TRAINEES! If you are passionate about marketing & sales, if you are dynamic and if you want to join our entrepreneurial adventure, contact us! 📧 contact@greenzy.be ☎️ +32.472218776 Don't know what Greenzy is? Greenzy is a young and dynamic start-up. It offers an indoor composter for people in houses/apartments to help them revalue their organic waste. Look here for more details! 👉🏻More details on the profile we are looking for here 👈🏻 🗣 If this advert reminds you of someone you know, don't hesitate to share... maybe it's thanks to you that we'll find the rare gem! 😍

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