Think-21 eyes food processors, supermarkets for waste recycling
Think-21 eyes food processors, supermarkets for waste recycling
SANTA CLARA, CA -- Think-21 believes it has technology that will be of interest to food processors and supermarkets, among others, in the United States.
Utilizing the technology of a partner in Europe, Long Island City, NY-based Think-21 believes that its advanced anaerobic digestion waste recycling systems will provide a low-cost alternative to waste disposal and at the same time produce renewable bio-gas from waste in the United States.
In Europe, Think-21's partner has two facilities in use, anticipates having two more on-line before year's end and has plans for three more facilities, said Sameer Rashid, director of business development for Think-21. Germany is the main market there, he said.
Mr. Rashid joined Think-21 Managing Director Alexander McFarlane at Cleantech 2007, held here May 23-24 at the Santa Clara Convention Center to help spread the word of the company's plans.
Think-21 seeks to create organic waste facilities on an industrial scale in the United States. "The [facilities] are economically friendly, more so than landfills," Mr. Rashid said, adding that Think-21 offers a lower cost of disposal while contributing positively to the environment.
Think-21 is eyeing 2009 as a tentative target date to have two such facilities come on-line in the United States. Likely placements of those facilities are one in the Northeast and one in California. Think-21 plans to step up its marketing efforts and hone in on project leads over the next four to six months, Mr. Rashid said.
"We've been well received," Mr. Rashid said, adding that it will be a race to see which of Think-21's targeted locations come on-line first. Mr. Rashid pointed out that there are avenues for grants and public funding available for environmental projects such as anaerobic digestion facilities. Think-21 is exploring prospects for project financing.
With food processors, Think-21 is interested in the unusable portion of food that won't find its way into bagged salads or other value-added products. Though a number of variables come into play regarding appropriate placement of a processing plant, Think-21 is targeting densely populated areas and areas with food-processing clusters.
Mr. Rashid said that Think-21 could play a significant future role in supermarkets' recycling efforts in the United States.
Though it is not tied to Think-21, Mr. Rashid cited WasteCap of Massachusetts and its Supermarket Recycling Organics Initiative, supported by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Food Association.
The Supermarket Recycling Organics Initiative shows supermarkets how to design, implement and sustain a recycling program that diverts discarded food, waxed and wet cardboard, renderings, soil and plants for composting. The program also addresses the recycling of stretch wrap, shrink-wrap, plastic bags, cardboard and other materials.
Utilizing the technology of a partner in Europe, Long Island City, NY-based Think-21 believes that its advanced anaerobic digestion waste recycling systems will provide a low-cost alternative to waste disposal and at the same time produce renewable bio-gas from waste in the United States.
In Europe, Think-21's partner has two facilities in use, anticipates having two more on-line before year's end and has plans for three more facilities, said Sameer Rashid, director of business development for Think-21. Germany is the main market there, he said.
Mr. Rashid joined Think-21 Managing Director Alexander McFarlane at Cleantech 2007, held here May 23-24 at the Santa Clara Convention Center to help spread the word of the company's plans.
Think-21 seeks to create organic waste facilities on an industrial scale in the United States. "The [facilities] are economically friendly, more so than landfills," Mr. Rashid said, adding that Think-21 offers a lower cost of disposal while contributing positively to the environment.
Think-21 is eyeing 2009 as a tentative target date to have two such facilities come on-line in the United States. Likely placements of those facilities are one in the Northeast and one in California. Think-21 plans to step up its marketing efforts and hone in on project leads over the next four to six months, Mr. Rashid said.
"We've been well received," Mr. Rashid said, adding that it will be a race to see which of Think-21's targeted locations come on-line first. Mr. Rashid pointed out that there are avenues for grants and public funding available for environmental projects such as anaerobic digestion facilities. Think-21 is exploring prospects for project financing.
With food processors, Think-21 is interested in the unusable portion of food that won't find its way into bagged salads or other value-added products. Though a number of variables come into play regarding appropriate placement of a processing plant, Think-21 is targeting densely populated areas and areas with food-processing clusters.
Mr. Rashid said that Think-21 could play a significant future role in supermarkets' recycling efforts in the United States.
Though it is not tied to Think-21, Mr. Rashid cited WasteCap of Massachusetts and its Supermarket Recycling Organics Initiative, supported by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Food Association.
The Supermarket Recycling Organics Initiative shows supermarkets how to design, implement and sustain a recycling program that diverts discarded food, waxed and wet cardboard, renderings, soil and plants for composting. The program also addresses the recycling of stretch wrap, shrink-wrap, plastic bags, cardboard and other materials.
