Rochester, NY | sashti@weradiate.com

Sashti, founder of WeRadiate, has 15+ years of waste management, composting, and recycling. Sashti brings his inherent interest in farming and gardening to the forefront of soil amendment practices. He holds a Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University. In 2009, Sashti was inspired by a community-run farm in India that was revitalizing its soils using onsite materials. Sashti continued investigating and exploring solutions to improve soil health. He realized the lack of awareness, systems thinking, and data across the sector. There he connected with residents and with small- and medium-sized compost operators to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between organic waste recycling, municipal regulations, and community composting. He founded WeRadiate to continue innovating in this field. Sashti has won awards including Grow-NY, Food and Agriculture competition, and is involved with incubator programs such as LaunchNY, Scale for Climate Tech, and Halcyon Fellowship.

Session Code: 2C

Track: CREF Research

Session Name: Update on microplastic degradation, remote sensing of compostable packaging, and PFAS

Session Time: Wednesday, February 7, 1:45 – 3:15 PM

Presentation Title: Research results of compostable packaging piles using remote monitoring devices and digital data

Presentation Description: Our session will encompass education, brainstorming, and a how-to presentation on key themes related to technology and compostable packaging. We will delve into these specific themes:

⁃ Appropriate methods for processing compostable packaging in windrows or compost bays;
⁃ Application of remote monitoring digital data sensors; and
⁃ Implementation of solar panels/photovoltaics (PV) to leverage technology effectively

During our discussion, we will provide a comprehensive outline of the setup process, including the necessary materials and considerations for the onsite location. We will explore the utilization of digital data monitoring system and the integration of solar panels as a sustainable power source to enhance the composting operations and optimize efficiency.

Additionally, we will present the results obtained from our monitored compostable packaging piles, highlighting the benefits of remote monitoring devices to minimize the need for manual data tracking. Through our test results, we will showcase different compostability techniques, present visual evidence of the breakdown process, and discuss the challenges currently faced by composting facilities, in a group setting.