Del. composting venture attracts investment

    A Wilmington food waste composting operation has attracted investment from the nation’s largest waste management firm and is considering expanding its operations.

    Peninsula Compost takes 400 tons of food waste daily and stores it under high-tech membranes from Delaware’s W.L. Gore & Associates. That along with drains, blowers, and sensors allow bacteria to turn the waste into high-grade compost in eight weeks.

    The company says results in the first 18 months have been so promising that Texas-based Waste Management announced a strategic investment last week. Waste Management already has composting and bagging operations and recently acquired a controlling interest in Garrick LLC, a producer of organic lawn and garden products.

    Peninsula also has proposed a similar plant in Freeport, Mass., and is considering projects in northern New Jersey and Baltimore.

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