Silva Digester Bundle – Paca digestora Silva (One-cube-meter Silva digester)

Guillermo Silva

An organic waste compression system.

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

The Silva Digester Bundle is an organic waste compression system designed to produce organic fertilizer. The system works by fermentation instead of rotting organic waste. The system was designed by Guillermo Silva, a forest technologist based in Colombia.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

The system has been implemented in Colombia. However, the designer states it can be applied anywhere if there is organic waste.

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

The system is open-source and it can be implemented by anyone.

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

Unknown

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Rotary Drum Composting, Vermicomposting, and NADEP Composting

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Target users include households and communities in general that have access to organic waste.

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

This product can be locally manufactured following the following steps:

a) Build the box: The process starts by building a 1 m x 1 m x 1 m box using wood planks. The planks of minimum length 1 m and varied width and thickness can be assembled using nails, wood screws, and hand tools.

b) Start the base: Place the box on the ground in an open space preferably outdoors (e.g., yard, parks, farms, or urban gardens). Place tree branches inside the box at the base to build support for organic waste. The space formed by the branches will allow draining rainwater.

c) Gather organic waste from your garden: This type of waste will form the first layer inside the box, on top of the three branches. Press this layer of waste using an earth rammer or stepping on it. The goal is to get very well-compressed organic garden waste.

d) Gather organic waste from your kitchen: Build the second layer forming a “nest” with organic waste from the garden and place organic waste from your kitchen inside the “nest.”

e) Cover the kitchen waste: Using another layer of garden waste, cover the kitchen waste very well, and compress the material until getting a compact compound.

f) Repeat the process until reaching the top of the box.

g) After a month, remove the planks and start a new bale.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Open-source

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Users can build their own Silva Digester Bundle by following the instructions published at this website

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Unknown

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Input requirement (volume and frequency)

How much organic waste/how often added

1 m³ or ∼500 kg and 180 days

Additives

Needed additives

No additives

Production capacity (kg output per kg input)

Volume out compared to volume in

1 kg output per 1 kg input

Production duration

Time to decompose

Unknown

Percentage of nutrient recovery

Amount of nutrients recovered at the end of processing

Unknown

Complementary treatment needed

Additional disinfection or other processes needed

None

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

The digester bundle uses a box made of wood planks. The dimensions of the box are 1 m x 1 m x 1 m and the size and thickness of the wood planks can vary. Wood strips can be used to join planks. Large plastic containers can work as an alternative to wooden boxes.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Technical support Technical support provided by

There is no technical support provided and users are expected to maintain the product on their own.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Wood planks can be replaced with plywood or any other kind of solid board.

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

Unknown

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

According to the designer, the 1 m³ wood box allows users to process up to 500 kg of organic waste (combined garden and kitchen waste at a 50/50 proportion). After six months, the compound is transformed into approximately 150 kg (330 lbs.) of organic fertilizer.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

The Silva Digester Bundle was tested at the “Villa del Socorro” neighborhood in Medellin (Comuna 2), Colombia but the results were not reported. However, the website shows images of the process of working with the community.

Testing performed by a research team from “Universidad de Antioquia in Medellin”, Colombia, to analyze the physical, chemical, biological, environmental, and sanitary aspects of 1 m³ digested bundles reported the following results:

pH between 6, 11-8, 9
Humidity 30.1%-67.3%
Minimum internal temperature 25°C, maximum internal temperature 57°C at an ambient temperature between 19-24°C
No ammonia, methane or hydrogen sulfide during the sampling process
No rodents, flies, or domestic cockroaches found
All decomposition process carried out by fungi, bacteria, and decomposer arthropods
At the end of the process, 76% of the 1 m³ bundle was converted to compost

The same investigation implemented a survey on 101 people from the community and the results showed an elevated perception of the system as “healthy, easy-to-handle, and useful technique to develop recreational and teaching/learning activities.”

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

The engineering school and Centro de Extension Academica at the Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín, Colombia, have investigated about digester bundles and organized workshops to train students, faculty, and staff to build and replicate the system.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

No known safety hazards are related to this product.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

None

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Ossa-Carrasquilla, L., 2016. Aplicación de la tecnología de las Pacas Biodigestoras para el tratamiento ecológico de los residuos orgánicos de la Universidad de Antioquia. Tesis de grado, Universidad de Antioquia.

Ardila Delgado, J., et al., 2015, Descomposición de residuos orgánicos en pacas: aspectos fisicoquímicos, biológicos, ambientales y sanitarios. Producción + Limpia, 10(2): 38-52.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Unknown

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

The Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín conducted monitoring of pH, humidity, weight, temperature, volume, leachate, gases, microorganisms, arthropods, and rodents were carried out. 101 members of the educational community were surveyed. Database and analysis were performed using Epi-Info and Excel.

Other information

Several videos (in Spanish) with tutorials on how to build a digester bundle can be found on Youtube.

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

Snapshot

Product description Brand name and product description

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

The system has been implemented in Colombia. However, the designer states it can be applied anywhere if there is organic waste.

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

The system is open-source and it can be implemented by anyone.

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

Unknown

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Rotary Drum Composting, Vermicomposting, and NADEP Composting

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Target users include households and communities in general that have access to organic waste.

Manufacturing & delivery

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

This product can be locally manufactured following the following steps:

d) Gather organic waste from your kitchen: Build the second layer forming a “nest” with organic waste from the garden and place organic waste from your kitchen inside the “nest.”

e) Cover the kitchen waste: Using another layer of garden waste, cover the kitchen waste very well, and compress the material until getting a compact compound.

f) Repeat the process until reaching the top of the box.

g) After a month, remove the planks and start a new bale.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Open-source

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Users can build their own Silva Digester Bundle by following the instructions published at this website

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Unknown

Performance & use

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Input requirement (volume and frequency)

How much organic waste/how often added

1 m³ or ∼500 kg and 180 days

Additives

Needed additives

No additives

Production capacity (kg output per kg input)

Volume out compared to volume in

1 kg output per 1 kg input

Production duration

Time to decompose

Unknown

Percentage of nutrient recovery

Amount of nutrients recovered at the end of processing

Unknown

Complementary treatment needed

Additional disinfection or other processes needed

None

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Technical support Technical support provided by

There is no technical support provided and users are expected to maintain the product on their own.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Wood planks can be replaced with plywood or any other kind of solid board.

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

Unknown

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

pH between 6, 11-8, 9
Humidity 30.1%-67.3%
Minimum internal temperature 25°C, maximum internal temperature 57°C at an ambient temperature between 19-24°C
No ammonia, methane or hydrogen sulfide during the sampling process
No rodents, flies, or domestic cockroaches found
All decomposition process carried out by fungi, bacteria, and decomposer arthropods
At the end of the process, 76% of the 1 m³ bundle was converted to compost

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

No known safety hazards are related to this product.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

None

Research & standards

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Ardila Delgado, J., et al., 2015, Descomposición de residuos orgánicos en pacas: aspectos fisicoquímicos, biológicos, ambientales y sanitarios. Producción + Limpia, 10(2): 38-52.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Unknown

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Other information

Several videos (in Spanish) with tutorials on how to build a digester bundle can be found on Youtube.

Feedback

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

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Silva Digester Bundle – Paca digestora Silva (One-cube-meter Silva digester)

Guillermo Silva

In context photographs (0)

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors