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FoodCycler Pilot Project

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District of Houston Food Waste Diversion Pilot Project

The District of Houston has entered into an agreement with Food Cycle Science to establish a pilot program that would allow for 150 FoodCycler machines to be purchased by residents of Houston at a discounted cost of $150-$200 depending on the model (regular price is $599-799), in exchange for recording their usage over the course of the program. Once the pilot program is complete, the FoodCycler machine is yours to keep!

Please note that only one entry per household is permitted.

The pilot program will run for 12 weeks beginning in February 2025. Each household that receives a FoodCycler will be asked to track how many “cycles” they run their FoodCycler through each week. For example, if you fill your FoodCycler up with organic waste and run the machine once per day for a week, you will mark down that you ran your unit 7 times. This tracking allows FoodCycle Science and the Municipality to estimate the total waste diversion achieved over the 12-week pilot program. At the end of the 12 weeks, participants are asked to fill out an exit survey, providing their review of the program and any other feedback they may have. The survey results are used to evaluate the program's success.

Food Cycle Science is looking to receive high-quality data from the pilot program participants regarding food waste diversion, as well as receive high-quality feedback from residents, staff, and council regarding the feasibility of a FoodCycler food waste diversion program for the District of Houston and similar communities. It would also demonstrate the viability of the technology and solutions in a municipal setting so the model can be redeployed in other similar communities in Canada.

This pilot program has several benefits for Houston, such as an opportunity to trial a home-based food waste diversion solution at a cost well below market prices and increasing waste diversion rates, therefore, decreasing waste disposal costs.

Click Here to Apply Today!

What is a Foodcycler?

The FoodCycler is a closed-loop indoor compost alternative that speeds up the natural decomposition process through aerobic digestion of waste. The unit dries and grinds food waste into a dry, odourless, nutrient-rich by-product that is significantly reduced in weight and volume from its unprocessed state. The product is free from bacteria, weed seeds, and food-borne pathogens that were eliminated during the process.

Benefits of the FoodCycler:

• Up to 90% volume reduction
• Quiet, compact, odourless operation
• Easy to clean, easy to operate, no special training or skills required
• Quick (compared to composting, the FoodCycler processes food waste in hours instead of months)
• Produces a valuable soil amendment, low in odour, and less attractive to wildlife.
• Reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) impact vs. landfill.

Click Here to view a short video.