An apparatus for treating food waste, comprising:
- a receptacle having a bottom support, a top support, and a cylindrical sidewall extending therebetween, wherein the receptacle has an interior cavity, wherein the top support has a first opening configured to receive the food waste, and wherein the bottom support has a first opening to release dehydrated food waste;
- a load door coupled to the first opening in the top support;
- a shaft rotatably arranged concentrically within the interior cavity of the receptacle and extending through a second opening in the bottom support of the receptacle and through a second opening in the top support of the receptacle such that the shaft is oriented vertically;
- a gear motor coupled to the shaft via one or more gears, a roller chain, or a drive belt;
- a first plurality of paddles each having a first end coupled to a first hub that is disposed concentrically about the shaft in a spaced-apart arrangement, the first plurality of static paddles each having a second end extending radially from the first hub such that the second end is coupled to the cylindrical sidewall of the receptacle;
- a second plurality of paddles each having a first end coupled to a second hub that is disposed concentrically about the shaft in a spaced-apart arrangement below the first hub, the second plurality of static paddles each having a second end extending radially from the second hub such that the second end is coupled to the cylindrical sidewall of the receptacle, wherein the first and the second plurality of paddles are configured to be static;
- a third plurality of paddles coupled to a third hub that is coupled to the shaft between the first hub and the second hub;
- a fourth plurality of paddles coupled to a fourth hub that is coupled to the shaft between the second hub and the bottom surface of the receptacle, wherein the third plurality of paddles and the fourth plurality of paddles are configured to rotate with the shaft;
- at least one heat source comprising one or more of (i) at least one heating pad coupled to the bottom support and/or the cylindrical sidewall of the receptacle, (ii) a heat exchanger coupled to the receptacle via an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and (iii) at least one microwave coupled to the top support and configured to emit microwaves into the interior cavity of the receptacle;
- and
- a gate coupled to the bottom support of the receptacle, wherein the gate is configured to move between a closed position such that the gate creates a watertight seal with the first opening in the bottom support of the receptacle and an open position that permits the dehydrated food waste to exit the interior cavity of the receptacle through the first opening in the bottom support.