System for processing food waste

Abstract

The present invention relates to an under-the-sink system for accepting and processing food waste and comprising a removable decomposable food waste container and an appliance comprising screw conveyors above one another and running in opposite directions to move waste from an inlet to the decomposable container, wherein the waste is shredded and compressed to remove liquid on moving from inlet to outlet., the appliance further comprising a plurality of fixed cutting members adapted to further chop said waste in a first auger chamber and one or more perforated plates for further shredding and compacting the waste to remove more liquid, wherein the pitch increases over the length of the first screw conveyor and the first and second screw conveyors each comprise a spiral wall to reduce the available volume in the auger flights.

Description

[0001] SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING FOOD WASTE

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a compact appliance arranged for processing food waste, in particular to a domestic food waste composting kitchen appliance for under-the-sink installation and to a method for creating plant fertiliser from food waste using said unit.

[0003] Background to the Invention

[0004] Kitchen waste disposal systems typically receive and crush food waste before discharging the crushed waste through drain pipes. This can result in environmental pollution and wastes renewable resources.

[0005] It is a therefore an object of the present invention to provide a food waste processing appliance which improves upon the prior art or at least provides a suitable alternative.

[0006] Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present invention addresses the problem of domestic food waste processing for recycling or disposal.

[0009] This problem is solved by dewatering, shredding and compressing food wate and packaging the resulting compacted food wate product in a removable decomposable container.

[0010] The terms shredding, chopping and cutting are used interchangeably herein.

[0011] The invention is set out in the claims.

[0012] Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a compact appliance for accepting and processing food waste by chopping, compressing and compacting to remove liquid and form an intermediate product which may be collected in a removable decomposable container. Once removed from the appliance, the intermediate product or, if collected in a removable decomposable container, the decomposable container and its contents, may be heated to be further compressed and dried to form plant fertiliser. The fertiliser may then be stored for future use, buried in a garden or placed in an outdoor compost bin.

[0013] According to the invention, there is provided an appliance for processing food waste, the appliance comprising: a main body with an inlet for accepting food waste, a first outlet for discharging compacted waste, and a second outlet for discharging liquid waste; a first screw conveyor in a first auger chamber within the main body, wherein the first screw conveyor is adapted to pull waste from the inlet into the first auger chamber and to move said waste along the auger chamber through the discharge end while chopping and compacting said waste to remove liquid, a plurality of fixed cutting members located in the first auger chamber and adapted to further chop said waste; a second screw conveyor in a second auger chamber, wherein the second auger chamber is located beneath the first auger chamber and adjacent the first outlet and wherein the second screw conveyor is adapted to pull waste discharged from the first auger chamber into the second auger chamber and push said waste through the first outlet while compacting said waste to remove more liquid; and one or more perforated plates for further shredding the waste and compacting the waste to remove more liquid; wherein the first screw conveyor comprises a rotatable shaft, a blade formed in a helix coaxial with the shaft to create a plurality of auger flights such that the pitch increases over the length of the first screw conveyor, and a spiral wall formed along a portion of the shaft in a helix perpendicular to the shaft between the auger flights on that portion of the shaft to increase the radius of the shaft towards the discharge end of the first screw conveyor so as to reduce the available volume in each said auger flight towards the discharge end of the first screw conveyor, wherein the second screw conveyor comprises a rotatable shaft, a blade formed in a helix coaxial with the shaft to create a plurality of auger flights, and a spiral wall formed in a helix perpendicular to and between the auger flights so as to increase the radius of the shaft to reduce the available volume in each said auger flight; and wherein the first outlet comprises a pipe extending from the second auger chamber and provided with a spring-loaded closure for opening and closing the first outlet.

[0014] The appliance is suitable for under-sink installation and is intended to accept food waste directly rather than from a sink.

[0015] The screw conveyors move the waste from the inlet to the waste outlet while chopping and compacting said waste to remove liquid. The spiral walls of the screw conveyors push the waste against the internal surface of the auger chambers to extract more liquid from the waste.

[0016] The capacity of the inlet is preferably in the range of from about 2 to about 15 litres, e.g., about 5 litres. However, this is not to be considered limiting and any capacity suitable for under sink installation is considered to be within the scope of the invention.

[0017] The inlet is preferably funnel-shaped.

[0018] The inlet is preferably slidably engaged with the main body.

[0019] The inlet is preferably removable for cleaning.

[0020] The first auger chamber is preferably provided with an opening at the top into which the inlet may be received.

[0021] In some embodiments, the first auger chamber comprises a feeding and chopping section beneath the inlet and a compacting section adjacent the feeding and chopping section, the compacting section having a discharge end such that the first screw conveyor is adapted to pull waste from the inlet into the feeding and chopping section and to move said waste along the auger chamber through the discharge end while chopping and compacting said waste to remove liquid. In this embodiment, the fixed cutting members are located in the feeding and chopping section of the first auger chamber and the portion of the first screw conveyor having a spiral wall to reduce available volume in the auger flights is located in the compacting section.

[0022] The second auger chamber is preferably provided with an opening at the top, particularly preferably wherein the opening is at the end of the chamber opposite the end adjacent the waste outlet.

[0023] The first auger chamber is preferably cylindrical., i.e., in the form of a tubular trough.

[0024] The second auger chamber preferably comprises a cylindrical portion and a tapered portion such that the diameter of the second auger chamber reduces towards the first outlet, i.e., waste outlet.

[0025] Each auger chamber independently preferably comprises at least one waste water drain slot for removal of liquid from the processed food waste. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the base of the first auger chamber is provided with a plurality of apertures for liquid to fall through. Additionally, or alternatively, the base of the second auger chamber may be provided with a plurality of apertures for liquid to fall through. The apertures may be slot shaped but this is not essential and other aperture shapes such as circles are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

[0026] The screw conveyors are preferably each independently manufactured from stainless steel.

[0027] The screw conveyors are preferably offset from one another such that the first auger flight of the first screw conveyor is above the waste outlet and the discharge end of the first screw conveyor is located above the first auger flight of the second screw conveyor.

[0028] The first screw conveyor is preferably a horizontal screw conveyor. Additionally, or alternatively, the second screw conveyor is preferably a horizontal screw conveyor. However, this is not considered to be limiting and inclined screw conveyors or a combination of horizontal and inclined screw conveyors may also be used.

[0029] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first and second screw conveyors are horizontal and are offset from each other.

[0030] The pitch increases over the length of the first screw conveyor. This prevents the first screw conveyor from blocking while the waste is being processed. The increase is preferably in the range of from about 0.5mm to about 2mm, e.g., about 1 mm, with every rotation, i.e., per auger flight. Preferably, the screw conveyor blades each independently comprise one or more serrated flights to assist in shredding the waste. Particularly preferably, the first screw conveyor comprises a serrated blade.

[0031] In embodiments wherein the first auger chamber comprises a feeding and chopping section, the portion of the screw conveyor blade located in the feeding and chopping section is preferably serrated.

[0032] The screw conveyor blades are preferably each independently in the range of from about 1 ,5mm to about 3mm thick.

[0033] Each screw conveyor is preferably belt driven.

[0034] Preferably a single motor drives both screw conveyors simultaneously. The motor preferably has a gearbox which allows for low speed, high torque output.

[0035] The diameter of the auger flights of the second screw conveyor preferably reduces towards the waste outlet such that the second screw conveyor is tapered to correspond with the taper of the second auger chamber.

[0036] The outlet pipe is preferably cut at an angle, preferably an angle of about 45 degrees.

[0037] The second outlet is preferably configured to be coupled to a residential drain.

[0038] The appliance preferably further comprises a waste water tank, wherein the second outlet is in fluid connection with the waste water tank.

[0039] The plurality of fixed cutting members are preferably located below the shaft of the first screw conveyor and between the auger flights of the screw conveyor.

[0040] The plurality of fixed cutting members are longer in length than the diameter of the auger flights and shorter in height than the radius of the auger flights such that there is space underneath them to allow the waste to move along the screw conveyor. The plurality of fixed cutting members are preferably in the range of from about 20mm to about 70 mm high, e.g., 50mm high. Additionally, or alternatively, the plurality of fixed cutting members are preferably flat, particularly preferably flat bars in the range of from about 1 mm to about 7mm thick, e.g., 3mm thick.

[0041] The plurality of fixed cutting members are adapted to cut the waste into smaller pieces and are preferably removable for cleaning.

[0042] The plurality of fixed cutting members are preferably manufactured from stainless steel.

[0043] The plurality of fixed cutting members are preferably located one and a half auger flights apart, e.g., about 50mm apart.

[0044] The appliance preferably comprises a perforated plate with a handle to enable removal thereof for cleaning and a slot for insertion of the plate around the shaft of the first screw conveyor.

[0045] Each perforated plate independently is preferably removable for cleaning.

[0046] Each perforated plate independently is preferably manufactured from stainless steel.

[0047] The appliance preferably comprises three perforated plates for shredding and compacting the waste, a first perforated plate removably attached to the first screw conveyor, a second perforated plate located at the discharge end of the first auger chamber and a third perforated plate located between the discharge end of the second screw conveyor and the waste outlet. In use, in this embodiment, the first screw conveyor pushes the waste towards and through the first perforated plate such that said waste is chopped by the plurality of fixed cutting bars in the first auger chamber and squeezed to remove liquid, and subsequently pushes the waste which has travelled through the first perforated plate towards and through the second perforated plate whilst removing more liquid from the waste.

[0048] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first perforated plate comprises a handle to enable removal thereof for cleaning and a slot for insertion of the plate around the shaft of the first screw conveyor.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the waste outlet is provided with a bag holder for accepting a removable decomposable waste collection bag, wherein the bag holder is preferably a plate member which pivots outwards from the appliance to allow for loading and removal of a decomposable waste collection bag, particularly preferably a U-shaped plate member.

[0050] In an alternative preferred embodiment, the appliance further comprises a drawer for accepting a removable decomposable waste collection container for attachment to the waste outlet pipe.

[0051] The spring-loaded closure for opening and closing the first outlet is preferably an odour seal, e.g., in the form of a flap.

[0052] The appliance preferably further comprises an aperture for inserting one or more additives suitable for use in plant fertilisers into the first auger chamber such that the additives are added into the food waste prior to processing by the appliance.

[0053] Preferably, the food waste composting appliance is attached to a kitchen door which slides horizontally to open.

[0054] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the food waste composting appliance has a lid which opens automatically as the door is opened.

[0055] In another aspect, the invention comprises a system for food waste disposal and recycling, the system comprising the appliance as described herein and a removable decomposable waste collection container having an opening for accepting the pipe at the appliance first outlet, and wherein the spring-loaded closure of the pipe is adapted to open when the waste container accepts the outlet pipe and to close when no waste container is present so as to seal the first outlet.

[0056] The decomposable waste collection container preferably comprises a handle. In this embodiment, the handle and decomposable waste collection container are preferably provided with aligned slots for fixing the handle to the decomposable waste collection container and aligned holes for accepting the outlet pipe. When connected to the decomposable waste collection container, the handle may be lifted to close the hole in the container.

[0057] The decomposable waste collection container preferably comprises a box made of cardboard.

[0058] In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for creating plant fertiliser from food waste using the appliance described hereinabove, the method comprising the following steps: inserting food waste into the appliance;

[0059] - processing food waste in the appliance by one or more of shredding, chopping, compressing and compacting to remove liquid and form an intermediate product;

[0060] - removing the intermediate product from the appliance and heating the intermediate product to form plant fertiliser.

[0061] Optionally, additives suitable for use in plant fertilisers may be added to the food waste in the appliance prior to processing.

[0062] In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of processing and packaging food waste for recycling or disposal using the system described hereinabove, the method comprising the following steps:

[0063] - inserting food waste into the appliance;

[0064] - processing food waste in the appliance to remove liquid and form an intermediate product;

[0065] - and collecting the intermediate product from the appliance in a removable waste container.

[0066] Advantageously, additives suitable for use in plant fertilisers may be added to the food waste in the appliance and the waste container containing the intermediate product may be heated to form plant fertiliser.

[0067] The skilled person will understand that where the same feature has been referenced in different aspects of the invention, this feature comprises the same parts and operates in the same way unless otherwise stated.

[0068] Brief Description of the drawings

[0069] Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0070] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a kitchen unit including the food waste composting appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the invention with a side wall of the amin body of the appliance removed such that internal components are visible;

[0071] Figure 2 shows perspective view of a preferred food waste composting appliance according to the invention;

[0072] Figure 3 shows a plan view of the preferred food waste composting appliance of Figure 2;

[0073] Figure 4 shows a front view of the preferred food waste composting appliance of Figure 2;

[0074] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred food waste composting appliance of Figure 2;

[0075] Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the food waste composting appliance of Figure 2 with components including the main body and auger chambers removed;

[0076] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the screw conveyors of the food waste composting appliance of Figure 2;

[0077] Figure 8 shows a top view of a preferred screw conveyor of the food waste composting appliance of Figure 2;

[0078] Figure 9 shows a left-hand side view of the preferred food waste composting appliance of Figure 2;

[0079] Figure 10 shows a right-hand side view of the preferred food waste composting appliance of Figure 2;

[0080] Figure 11 shows a perspective view of of the preferred food waste composting appliance of Figure 2 with the main body removed;

[0081] Figure 12a shows a perspective view of the components of the top chamber of the preferred food waste composting appliance of Figure 2 Figure 12b shows an exploded view of Figure 12a;

[0082] Figure 13 shows a perspective view of a preferred system for food waste disposal and recycling according to the invention with one side of the main body of the appliance removed such that internal components are visible and showing a removable decomposable waste collection container prior to insertion in the drawer;

[0083] Figure 14 shows a side view of the system of Figure 13 with the removable decomposable waste collection container inserted into the drawer but not connected to the waste outlet;

[0084] Figures 15 to17 show perspective schematic views of the connection of the removable container to the waste outlet with the container shown in cross section;

[0085] Figure 18 shows a side view of the system of Figure 13 with the removable container connected to the waste outlet;

[0086] Figure 19a shows a preferred removable waste container for use in the system according to the invention;

[0087] Figures 19b shows a preferred handle for the removable waste container of Figure 19b; and

[0088] Figures 20a to 20c show how handle of Figure 19b interacts with the waste container of Figure 19a.

[0089] Detailed

[0090] In overview, a compact appliance and system for accepting, processing and packaging food waste are provided for under-the-sink installation, the appliance comprising one screw conveyor above another, the screw conveyors running in opposite directions to move waste from an inlet to a decomposable container located at an outlet, wherein the waste is shredded and compressed to remove liquid on moving from the inlet to the outlet.

[0091] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. It will be appreciated that the invention should not be construed to be limited to the examples, which are now described; rather, the invention is construed to include any and all applications provided herein and all equivalent variations within the skill of the ordinary artisan.

[0092] Referring to the drawings, there is shown system for food waste disposal and recycling, indicated generally by reference numeral 300 and comprising food waste composting appliance 100 and a removable decomposable waste collection container in the form of cardboard box 50. As can be seen in Figure 1 , appliance 100 is for under sink installation and may be attached to kitchen unit door 200 which slides horizontally to open and is suitable for accepting box 50. Lid (not shown) of appliance 100 opens automatically as kitchen unit door 200 is opened.

[0093] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, appliance 100 comprises main body 10 with inlet funnel 11 for accepting food waste (not shown) and outlet 60 for discharging shredded compacted waste (not shown). Top auger 20 is located in top auger chamber 21 within main body 10 and lower auger 30 is located in lower auger chamber 31 within main body 10 beneath top auger chamber 21 . Top and lower auger chambers 21 , 31 are encased with a water collection tank (not shown) to prevent odour from liquid waste from escaping.

[0094] Augers 20 and 30 are belt-driven by motor 40 via pulley system 41 .

[0095] Squeeze plate 24 is removably attached to auger 20 and has a plurality of apertures 71 to shred and compact the waste to remove liquid. Squeeze plate 26 is located at the discharge end of auger 20 and has a plurality of apertures 72 to further shred and compact the waste to remove more liquid. Squeeze plate 36 is adjacent outlet 60 and has a plurality of apertures 73 to produce back pressure to help extract more liquid at this final stage.

[0096] As shown in Figure 1 , removable cardboard box 50 may be provided to collect the shredded and compacted waste. Drawer 61 is provided adjacent outlet 60 to allow for loading and removal of box 50.

[0097] As can be seen in Figure 5, top auger chamber 21 is in the form of a tubular trough of constant diameter, e.g., 160mm, with a top opening to receive inlet funnel 11 and a plurality of waste water drain slots along the base thereof in the form of apertures 29.

[0098] Top auger 20 comprises a rotatable shaft 15 with a discontinuous helical blade around shaft 16 forming sets of auger flights 22, 23 for reducing the waste into smaller pieces before the waste reaches perforated squeeze plate 26 for further shredding and compression. Over the length of auger 20, the pitch increases approximately 1 mm per blade rotation.

[0099] As shown in Figure 8, the discontinuous blade of auger 20 has 11 rotations, the first seven and a half of which, i.e., auger flights 22 up to squeeze plate 24, have serrated cuts 10mm deep to provide a feeding and chopping portion of auger 20. There are seven serrated cuts per blade rotation 22 (approx. 51 degree spacing). These cuts assist in cutting larger pieces of waste and feeding it into auger 20.

[0100] Three removable flat cutter bars 27 attached to connecting plate 28 are located below the shaft of auger 20 and between auger flights 22. Cutter bars 27 are shorter than the radius of auger flights 22 such that there is space to allow the waste to move along auger 20. In the preferred embodiment shown, cutter bars 27 are each 50mm high and 3mm thick and located one and a half blade rotations apart, e.g., about 50mm apart.

[0101] The remaining blade rotations of the helical blade of auger 20, i.e., auger flights 23, are provided with spiral wall 25 along the portion of shaft 15 between squeeze plates 24 and 26 to provide a squeeze portion of auger 20 in which, during use of the appliance, waste is pushed against the internal surface of auger chamber 21 to extract liquid from the waste due to the reduced available volume in each auger flight 23.

[0102] As shown in Figure 5, augers 20 and 30 are horizontal screw conveyors offset from one another such that squeeze plate 24 at the discharge end of auger 20 is located above the inlet end of auger 30. Auger 20 is preferably about 396mm long and auger 30 is preferably about 375mm long.

[0103] Lower auger chamber 31 is in the form of a tapered tubular trough in which the diameter reduces towards outlet 60, e.g., from 160mm to 50mm. Lower auger chamber 31 has a plurality of waste water drain slots in the form of apertures 39 along the non-tapered portion of the base.

[0104] Lower auger 30 is tapered to fit inside lower auger chamber 31 and comprises a rotatable shaft 16 with a continuous helical blade having twelve and a half rotations or blade turns forming a set of auger flights 32 around shaft 16. Auger flights 32 are provided with spiral wall 35 for pushing waste against the internal surface of auger chamber 31 to extract liquid from the waste. The pitch of auger 30 is 30mm and is constant over the full length.

[0105] In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the pulley sizes are the same and the pitch augers 20 and 30 is closely aligned.

[0106] As shown in Figure 12b, in the preferred embodiment apertures 71 on perforated plate 24 are provided in a pattern of concentric circles and perforated plate 24 is further provided with slot 75 for insertion over the shaft of auger 20 and handle 76 to assist removal, e.g., for cleaning, and perforated plate 26 is circular and provided with parallel lines of apertures 72 as well as a larger central aperture 74 for insertion of the plate onto shaft the shaft of auger 20. As shown in Figure 9, in the preferred embodiment apertures, 73 on perforated plate 36 are provided in a pattern of concentric circles.

[0107] Apertures 71 of squeeze plate 24 are preferably 15mm in diameter, apertures 72 of squeeze plate 26 are preferably 5mm in diameter and apertures 73 of squeeze plate 36 are preferably 5mm in diameter. Squeeze plate 36 is preferably 50mm in diameter.

[0108] Drawer 61 is slidably arranged with respect to appliance 100 to allow for loading and removal of box 50 and is of a size and shape to allow for a snug fit of box 50. Water waste drain slots 29, 39 lead to a single waste water outlet (not shown) at the base of appliance 100.

[0109] In use, food waste is placed into inlet funnel 11 . Auger 20 moves waste from inlet funnel 11 through perforated squeeze plates 24 and 26. Lower auger 30 then moves waste from auger chamber 20 through perforated plate 36 to outlet 60. The waste received by auger 30 has been cut and pushed through squeeze plate 26 so it is of a uniform size and does not block auger 30.

[0110] Box 50 containing collected compacted waste may be heated, e.g., in an oven, to be further compressed and dried to form plant fertiliser. The fertiliser may then be stored for future use, buried in a garden or placed in an outdoor compost bin.

[0111] Bottom auger 30 located in bottom auger chamber 31 below top auger chamber 21 moves the waste from perforated plate 36 toward removable decomposable waste collection box 50 located in drawer 61 adjacent outlet 60.

[0112] As shown in Figures 13 to 18, when box 50 is placed into drawer 61 of appliance 100 to form system 300 and drawer 61 is pushed towards outlet 60 which takes the form of a pipe cut at an angle, spring-loaded flap 62 on pipe 60 is opened as box 50 presses against protrusion 63 at the top of flap 62.

[0113] As shown in Figures 19a to 20c, removable decomposable waste box 50 has a hole 53 on one side for accepting outlet 60 and slot 51 in the lid for accepting flap 52. Flap 52 is on the side of the box opposing the side provided with hole 53. Box 50 is further provided with handle 54. Handle 54 is also made of cardboard and provided with slot 55 for accepting flap 52 and further provided with hole 56 for alignment with hole 53 of box 50. When in place, handle 54 may be lifted to close hole 53.

[0114] In use, food waste is placed into inlet section 11 via funnel 12 and one or more additives may be added via aperture 13. The waste is shredded and the resulting product compacted and collected in box 50. Flap 62 acts an odour seal. There should be no liquid at this stage of the process.

[0115] This intermediate product, i.e., box 50 and collected compacted waste) may be heated, e.g., in an oven, to be further compressed and dried to form plant fertiliser. The fertiliser may then be stored for future use, buried in a garden or placed in an outdoor compost bin.

[0116] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and additions are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:1 . An appliance for processing food waste, the appliance comprising: a main body with an inlet for accepting food waste, a first outlet for discharging compacted waste, and a second outlet for discharging liquid waste; a first screw conveyor in a first auger chamber within the main body, wherein the first screw conveyor is adapted to pull waste from the inlet into the first auger chamber and to move said waste along the auger chamber through the discharge end while chopping and compacting said waste to remove liquid, a plurality of fixed blade members located in the first auger chamber and adapted to further chop said waste; a second screw conveyor in a second auger chamber, wherein the second auger chamber is located beneath the first auger chamber and adjacent the first outlet and wherein the second screw conveyor is adapted to pull waste discharged from the first auger chamber into the second auger chamber and push said waste through the first outlet while compacting said waste to remove more liquid; and one or more perforated plates for further shredding the waste and compacting the waste to remove more liquid; wherein the first screw conveyor comprises a rotatable shaft, a blade formed in a helix coaxial with the shaft to create a plurality of auger flights such that the pitch increases over the length of the first screw conveyor, and a spiral wall formed along a portion of the shaft in a helix perpendicular to the shaft between the auger flights on that portion of the shaft to increase the radius of the shaft towards the discharge end of the first screw conveyor so as to reduce the available volume in each said auger flight towards the discharge end of the first screw conveyor, wherein the second screw conveyor comprises a rotatable shaft, a blade formed in a helix coaxial with the shaft to create a plurality of auger flights, and a spiral wall formed in a helix perpendicular to and between the auger flights so as to increase the radius of the shaft to reduce the available volume in each said auger flight; andwherein the first outlet comprises a pipe extending from the second auger chamber and provided with a spring-loaded closure for closing the first outlet.

2. The appliance for processing food waste according to claim 1 , wherein the first auger chamber is in the form of a tubular trough with a top opening for receiving the main inlet and a plurality of apertures in the base or liquid to fall through.

3. The appliance for processing food waste according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first auger chamber comprises a feeding and chopping section beneath the inlet and a compacting section adjacent the feeding and chopping section, the compacting section having a discharge end such that the first screw conveyor is adapted to pull waste from the inlet into the feeding and chopping section and to move said waste along the auger chamber through the discharge end while chopping and compacting said waste to remove liquid, wherein a perforated plate is removably attached to the first screw conveyor at end of the feeding and chopping section adjacent the compacting section, wherein the fixed blade members are located in the feeding and chopping section of the first auger chamber and wherein the portion of the first screw conveyor having a spiral wall to reduce available volume in the auger flights is located in the compacting section.

4. The appliance for processing food waste according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second auger chamber comprises a cylindrical portion and a tapered portion, wherein the diameter of the auger flights of the second screw conveyor reduces towards the first outlet such that the second screw conveyor is tapered to correspond with the taper of the second auger chamber.

5. The appliance for processing food waste according to claim 4, wherein the base of the cylindrical portion is provided with a plurality of apertures for liquid to fall through.

6. The appliance for processing food waste according to any one of the preceding claims, the appliance comprising a first perforated plate removably attached to the first screw conveyor, a second perforated plate located at the discharge end of the first auger chamber and a third perforated plate located between the discharge end of the second screw conveyor and the outlet.

7. The appliance for processing food waste according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the screw conveyors are offset from one another such that the first augerflight of the first screw conveyor is above the first outlet and the discharge end of the first screw conveyor is located above the first auger flight of the second screw conveyor.

8. The appliance for processing food waste according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of fixed cutting members are located below the shaft of the first screw conveyor and between the auger flights of the screw conveyor, wherein the height of each fixed cutting member independently is less than the radius of the auger flights such that there is space underneath the fixed cutting members to allow the waste to be moved along the first auger chamber by the first screw conveyor.

9. The appliance for processing food waste according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of fixed cutting members are located one and a half auger blade rotations apart.

10. The appliance for processing food waste according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the appliance further comprises a waste water tank, wherein the second outlet is in fluid connection with the waste water tank.

11. A method for creating plant fertiliser from food waste using the appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the following steps:- inserting food waste into the appliance;- optionally adding additives suitable for use in plant fertilisers to the food waste;- processing food waste in the appliance by one or more of shredding, chopping, compressing and compacting to remove liquid and form an intermediate product;- removing the intermediate product from the appliance and heating the intermediate product to form plant fertiliser.

12. A system for food waste disposal and recycling, the system comprising the appliance as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 and a removable decomposable waste collection container having an opening for accepting the pipe at the appliance first outlet, wherein the spring-loaded closure of the pipe is adapted to open when the waste container accepts the pipe and to close when no waste container is present so as to seal the first outlet.

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