EVALUATING APPLICABLE TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES FOR AN INTEGRATED AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD PROCESSING FACILITY

An evaluation was conducted to determine feasibility and appropriate technology for treating and recycling process wastewater flows generated by an Oregon Food Processor. The company, located near Portland, Oregon, produces packaged organic food products. The processing facility generates approximately 150,000 gallons per day of wastewater with chemical oxygen demand concentrations ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 milligrams per liter. The processing plant presently discharges to the municipal sanitary sewer. Moving processing operations out to the farm site in a nearby rural area is being considered as a means achieving broader sustainability within the company and integrating/recycling waste flows at the farm. Treatment and discharge alternatives were identified and evaluated and are described in this paper. The best alternative appeared to be recycling treated process flows on a seasonal basis and discharging to receiving water during the non-growing season. Sequencing batch reactor or membrane bioreactor technology were recommended to provide maximum flexibility for treating variable flows and loads.