Mushroom-Grower Uses Mushroom Waste to Produce Compost and Heat

Mushroom-grower Champignonkwekerij Gemert (CKG) has opened a plant, Upcycling Gemert, which converts organic waste from growing mushrooms into compost, fuel and renewable heat.

CKG produces five million kilos of  mushrooms annually, and creates a lot of organic waste. The culture remains of these mushrooms are wet biomass, known as mushroom compost. The waste is dried and composted, which creates heat. The heat is then captured and used to supply CKG with heat for growing mushrooms as well as to nearby vegetable-growers. This replaces the use of one million cubic meter gas per year.

The compost, called ‘Champost', produced from the process can be used as a soil improver and fertilizer. The process is not only used for the waste of mushrooms. Other biomass sources, such as sewage sludge and animal manure can be used for the plant.

The Dutch government has showed support and has financed the project.