Food wastage is a major issue that many businesses struggle with due to the lack of recycling options or the inconvenience of recycling options. As such, the Mill Kitchen Bill was created to supposedly offer businesses a smart way to create chicken feed.
Smart Bin
The Mill Kitchen Bin, by theory, should provide a convenient way to recycle trash and turn it into kitchen food. However, it also comes with some strings attached, starting with its price of $396.
The smart bin is a full-sized Wi-Fi-connected trash bin with sensors to identify biodegradable projects. It also has an industry-grade food grinder and can munch through egg shells, coffee grinds, sandwiches, and other types of foods.
The bin is 27 inches tall and 16 inches wide, and although it does well with solids, it struggles to deal with jams. However, aside from its initial price, it also charges a monthly subscription and doesn't make chicken feed automatically.
The concept of the smart bin is close to the electric countertop "composters," which grind, dry, and dehydrate unfinished food. So far, the smart bin remains a concept and isn't functioning at its full potential yet.
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Mill Current Status
Matt Rogers, the CEO, and co-founder of the company, says that they're still trying to go through the R&D and regulatory process regarding the smart bin's ability to create feeds. However, the idea is that food becomes more critical than compost and that eating it should be continued.
Rogers highlights how 40% of food that's grown gets thrown away, citing a 2019 report, saying that only about half of it comes from people at home. Food is also the most common landfill item, based on a 2021 report, wherein decomposition creates greenhouse gas methane.
The CEO highlights how the technology is a blend of design and climate and is good for places without much space or if there's no other practical application of compost. As such, the bin costs $615 for the first year alone, with the $45 monthly fee included if buyers reserve immediately.
The monthly fee also covers repairs, replacements, parts, and everything that comes with handling the smart bin, including shipping the grounds back. Even if buyers don't ship back the grounds, they must pay the monthly fee.
Chicken Feed Production
A company spokesperson, Molly Spaeth, said they expect to get two more procedural votes for their chicken feed production by January 2024. The company would need approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) to create animal food.
So far, this technology has not yet been developed, and no business has successfully turned leftover food from households into commercial chicken feed. However, the process was done in the past with restaurants and grocery store scraps.
Recently, the AAFCO approved a new definition for animal feed ingredients produced from Dried, Recovered Household Food. However, there are still other regulatory hoops that need to be passed.
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