Comments on: Aseptic Packaging and Recycling http://www.lackhead.org/2007/04/aseptic-packaging-and-recycling/ The irascible ramblings of some guy named Chad Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:30:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: MRL http://www.lackhead.org/2007/04/aseptic-packaging-and-recycling/comment-page-1/#comment-58 MRL Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:25:44 +0000 http://www.lackhead.org/2007/04/aseptic-packaging-and-recycling/#comment-58 Inquiring minds want to know what is done with the "mixed leftover" recycleables. I can understand/imainge what is done with single material recycleables, but thought that such mixes of plastic/cardboard/aluminum would be tossed aside, and am glad I can breathe a little sigh of relief that a few more things are recycled in the world than I thought. Inquiring minds want to know what is done with the “mixed leftover” recycleables. I can understand/imainge what is done with single material recycleables, but thought that such mixes of plastic/cardboard/aluminum would be tossed aside, and am glad I can breathe a little sigh of relief that a few more things are recycled in the world than I thought.

]]> By: Satan http://www.lackhead.org/2007/04/aseptic-packaging-and-recycling/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Satan Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:42:30 +0000 http://www.lackhead.org/2007/04/aseptic-packaging-and-recycling/#comment-54 There's also irradiation, which doesn't care about the packaging being made of any material, as long as the container remains air tight. MRE's are probably the most well known irradiated food. Not only does irradiation of food kill any microbes in it, but it does not require any kind of cooking or the like. Raw meat, as an example of something which will rot quickly, can be packaged, irradiated and kept at room temperature for months if not years, or refrigerated for many years. The energy savings alone could be amazing, if all that is required for a typical household is a mini-fridge for cold drinks and ice. The radiation source is typically spent nuclear fuel, so we're not using any energy in the production process beyond the packaging itself. Furthermore, unlike pasteurization of any variety, microbes can't get paste the irradiation process (such as MAP can with pasteurization) and since the food is not heated at all, there is no loss of nutrients. I'd say combine the two. Aseptic packaging with irradiation rather than pasteurization. There’s also irradiation, which doesn’t care about the packaging being made of any material, as long as the container remains air tight.

MRE’s are probably the most well known irradiated food.

Not only does irradiation of food kill any microbes in it, but it does not require any kind of cooking or the like. Raw meat, as an example of something which will rot quickly, can be packaged, irradiated and kept at room temperature for months if not years, or refrigerated for many years. The energy savings alone could be amazing, if all that is required for a typical household is a mini-fridge for cold drinks and ice. The radiation source is typically spent nuclear fuel, so we’re not using any energy in the production process beyond the packaging itself.

Furthermore, unlike pasteurization of any variety, microbes can’t get paste the irradiation process (such as MAP can with pasteurization) and since the food is not heated at all, there is no loss of nutrients.

I’d say combine the two. Aseptic packaging with irradiation rather than pasteurization.

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