A Primer on Garbage Enzyme

Green Living Column April 2009

A Primer on Garbage Enzyme

What Is Garbage Enzyme?

Garbage enzyme is a complex solution produced by the fermentation of fresh kitchen waste (fruit and vegetable peel), sugar (brown sugar, jaggery or molasses) and water. Garbage enzyme is developed by Dr. Rosukon of Thailand, who has been actively involved in enzyme research for more than 30 years.

The purported benefits of garbage enzyme, reported by those who have experimented with it:
1. Reduces waste and saves money by turning organic waste into household cleaning solutions.
2. Reduces methane and other greenhouse gas emissions, since less waste ends up in landfills.
3. Improves water quality, as enzyme that ends up in groundwater and rivers is reported to remove impurities and harmful sludge and bacteria.

The many uses of garbage enzymes:
Natural household cleaning agent; air purifier; deodoriser; insecticide; detergent; organic fertiliser; pest repellent; natural antiseptic solution; drain and sink blockage remover.


Making your own garbage enzyme:

You need:
a. An airtight plastic container
b. Water
c. Fruit and vegetable waste (peel, cores, stems etc.)
d. Sugar - (brown sugar, molasses sugar or jaggery)

Instructions:
1. Dilute sugar with water in the plastic container. Add vegetable and fruit waste. (See ratio provided in the diagram).
2. Leave some space in the container for fermentation.
3. Close or cap it tight.
4. In the first month, gases will build up during the fermentation process. Release the gases by uncapping the container every day, and then screwing the lid back on.
5. Push or poke the floating vegetable waste down every few days.
6. Place in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area. Avoid direct sunlight. Let the solution ferment for at least 3 months before use.


Take note:
1. Do not use glass or metal containers that cannot expand, as they may explode.
2. Waste matter for making enzyme does not include paper, plastic, metal or glass. Do NOT use cooked food, anything containing grease/oil or fish and meat residue.
3. To make a fresh-smelling enzyme solution, use more citrus fruit peel or pandanus leaves.
4. The ideal colour of the enzyme is dark brown. If it has turned black, add the same amount of sugar to start the fermentation process over.
5. It is normal to find a white, black or brown layer forming on top of the enzyme solution. If you encounter flies and worms in the container, close and seal the cover of the container tight and ignore the organisms. The chemical composition of the enzyme will get rid of them the natural way.
6. Make full use of the enzyme residue: Reuse it for the next batch of enzyme solution by adding fresh kitchen waste.
7. Use it as fertilizer by drying the residue (under sunlight), blending it and burying it in the ground. Alternatively, grind the residue, pour it into the toilet bowl, add some brown sugar and flush to remove sewer blockages.
8. If you have not gathered enough kitchen waste, you may fill up the container gradually. The 3-month fermentation period starts from the day you add your final batch of kitchen waste.
9. Garbage enzyme is at its best after 6 months of fermentation. Garbage enzyme will never expire. Do not store it in the refrigerator.

(Information reproduced from http://reviews.ebay.com.sg/Garbage-Enzyme-DIY-Steps_W0QQugidZ10000000008520240 and http://garbageenzyme.com/2008/10/)