Kiwifruit Processing
The processing of Kiwifruit into compost requires the right processes to ensure wild vines do not grow from the finished compost. Plateau Compost ensure that this does not happen, due to our robust composting process. This allows the reject kiwifruit to be used, and turned back into benfeicial material. Read more about the problem in our Case Studies.
Transporting to our facility
The raw material is process grade, conventional non-stickered reject kiwifruit. They come from many packhouses, including EastPack Edgecumbe site. Plateau Compost arrange transport to our dedicated Composting Site in Kawerau.
Mixing with mill fibre
The raw kiwifruit material is mixed at a ration of 1:1 with waste paper mill fibre from Norske Skog Paper Mill. This material is high in carbon content, and the Pinus Radiata fibre waste absorbs all of the kiwifruit juices. This mix is then placed in up to 500m3 heaps for 4-6 weeks.
Temperature testing & turning
The 500m3 heap is turned weekly, and at the end of the 4-6 week period is fed through a wagon to produce windrows. The temperature and moisture is monitored every week to ensure adequate conditions for hot composting. Windwos are turned fortnightly, and then monthly for the last half of the composting process.
Combining for commercial use
The kiwifruit composting process is complete after 7-8 months. Now, the kiwifruit compost is ready to be mixed in with the Greenwaste compost at a ratio of 1:1-2. This mixture becomes our Organic Compost, ready to be distributed for use.
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