SCH Compost Machine

Introducing the Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii Compost Machine

We worked with Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii to document and communicate the story of the first ever “in vessel” composting system in Hawaii. 

This device accelerates the breakdown of food scraps and compostable material. 

We are excited to share this story with the world. Over the course of several weeks we filmed the SCH and Full Circle Farm team preparing for the arrival of the device, setting up the device and unveiling it to key stakeholders. 

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii achieved this historic feat with the help of Full Circle Farm, 11th Hour Racing, Frost Family Foundation, and Revolusun. This is the story of a new waste management service designed to move businesses away from typical disposal methods (landfill and incineration) by separating compost and recyclables from the waste stream. Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii’s vision of inspired people, clean beaches, and healthy coastlines hinges on a core belief that programs like these will alter the way our communities engage with their resources and consumer choices.

The Green Mountain Technologies Earth Flow In-Vessel composting system is one of the first of its kind in Hawai‘i and will alleviate problems of odors, emissions, and leachate commonly associated with composting, that are primary concerns for traditional composting. The compost machine is a 20-foot shipping container with an auger system that churns up a mixture of food scraps and organic matter, while introducing oxygen to the system. Typically, compost takes anywhere from 6-8 months to produce healthy soil amendment. With this composting system, the time it takes to produce rich, vital compost is reduced to 2-3 months (2 weeks in-vessel, with 6-8 weeks of curing)!

The compost machine, housed at Full Circle Farm in Waimānalo, can process up to 400 pounds of food scraps, and 600 pounds of mulch and green waste per day (over 365,000 pounds per year in total). 1,000 daily pounds of organics loaded becomes 500 lbs (or ~½ cubic yard) of compost harvested daily, creating a steady and high volume of quality, local product. The group of organizations involved also plans to test the viability of compostable alternatives to plastics in the machine as the Disposable Food Ware Ordinance 19-30 (formerly Bill 40) phases begin to go into effect. 

“Currently we burn the vast majority of our food waste on O‘ahu, wasting a critical, nutrient-rich opportunity to enliven our soils. We are excited to be one of the groups leading a change in the way that we look at waste in this community” says Rafael Bergstrom, Executive Director at Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi. “Carbon sequestration in healthy soils and reduction of fossil-fuel-based single-use plastics are dual mechanisms of local solutions to climate change. The more food we grow at home, the less we import wrapped in plastic.”

While the compost machine is an exciting and innovative new technology here on the island, SCH and partners are looking to add another component. An education center is currently being developed at the farm that will cover topics such as waste streams, microbiology, sustainability, environmental and climate sciences, and the benefits of healthy soil. 

“It’s going to take all of us, and a diversity of composting systems to really tackle the food waste issue. We’re excited to demonstrate practical solutions that people can put into practice at home, in their backyards, or with their communities. Whether you’re already composting, or completely new to it, we hope you’ll leave the farm feeling jazzed about how you can participate!” - Sean Anderson, Compost Expert and Founder of Full Circle Farm. 

Bergstrom continues, “We are lucky at SCH to have an extraordinary group of funders and local partners who believe in our vision to bring these types of solutions to life.”

Stay tuned for future videos on this topic. It’s one close to our hearts and we’re excited to see how it develops.