Storage and disposal of organic waste

A system for handling organic waste produced at a food-handling facility, comprising:

• a storage tank installed below ground;
• a mill for milling the organic waste;
• a conduit coupling the mill to the storage tank such that the milled organic waste is delivered under gravity to the storage tank;
• and,
• a rigid suction line fixed to the tank, the suction line comprising an inlet communicating with the interior of the storage tank adjacent to the bottom of the storage tank and an outlet external to the storage tank and the facility;
• a connector attached to the outlet of the suction line for coupling the suction line to a suction device thereby to permit the organic waste to be removed from the storage tank with suction applied to the outlet end of the suction line;
• a ventilation line comprising an inlet communicating with the interior of the tank and an outlet external to the storage tank and the facility;
• and,
• an air flow producer mounted in the ventilation line to draw air from the interior of the storage into the ventilation line, thereby placing the interior of the storage tank under negative pressure, and to discharge the air through the outlet of the ventilation line.

A method of handling organic waste produced in a food-handling facility, comprising:

• milling the organic waste at the facility;
• delivering the milled organic waste to a storage tank at the facility;
• drawing the organic waste with suction from the storage tank into a portable tank mounted on a vehicle;
• and,
• transporting the organic waste in the portable tank to a disposal site or to a storage site.