SWACO and the City of Columbus officially commissioned the region鈥檚 only Class II Composting Facility. 鈥淣early one million pounds of food waste arrives at the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill every single day making it both the largest source of landfilled material and one of the best opportunities to reduce our reliance on the landfill,” said Joe Lombardi, SWACO Executive Director. 鈥淭he facility represents a significant step forward for central Ohio鈥檚 circular economy, introducing industrial-scale composting technology that can be replicated across the Solid 91仓库 District to help divert a complex component of the region鈥檚 waste and keep it moving through a more circular economy.鈥�
The Class II Composting Facility, located at the Alum Creek 91仓库 & Reuse Convenience Center, 2100 Alum Creek Drive, utilizes Green Mountain Technologies (GMT) Earth FLOW EF-IM40. Headquartered in Washington, GMTs innovative unit is constructed in Sandusky, Ohio, and the system is designed for high-efficiency and climate-controlled organic waste processing. SWACO鈥檚 unit is comprised of a 40鈥� shipping container with the ability to process up to 400 tons of material annually.
The Million-Pound Challenge
Daily food waste in central Ohio represents 15% of the local waste stream and is the single largest source of landfilled material (by weight). The average family of four in the United States spends nearly $2,000 on food every year, that is never eaten but instead is sent to a landfill. 鈥淭ogether with SWACO, we are celebrating innovation and a partnership that tackles food waste head-on,鈥� said Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther.
To address food insecurity and waste, and to promote a more circular economy, SWACO will be partnering with Franklin County鈥檚 robust network of community gardens where the compost from the Alum Creek facility will be donated to help grow nutritious foods for residents and families.
鈥淔ood waste affects all of us, from cost to environmental impact. When we can鈥檛 prevent it or rescue the product, composting is how we turn it into something valuable again. Feeding the soil that feeds the plants that feed our communities, that鈥檚 the definition of full circle,鈥� said Trevor Horn, Farm Director, Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
The Greenprint Initiative
The new facility is a cornerstone of SWACO鈥檚聽Greenprint for a Sustainable Future, a strategic roadmap designed to increase the region鈥檚 diversion rate and foster environmental stewardship and partnership through three main initiatives:
- Reimagining Programs:聽SWACO is pursuing new ways of delivering mature programs with an eye to customer service and greater cost efficiencies.
- Seizing Emerging Opportunities:聽SWACO is forming new partnerships and creating outlets and opportunities to capture and divert hard-to-recycle items, like textiles and mattresses.
- Bringing New Infrastructure & Technology to the Region
鈥淭he opening of this facility is the culmination of more than a year of strategic planning and a clear example of Greenprint in Action,’鈥� said聽Lombardi. 鈥淎ddressing food waste is a complex challenge, but by investing in this innovative technology, we are providing the infrastructure needed to turn a waste problem into a soil solution. This isn’t just about managing trash; it鈥檚 about preserving our landfill鈥檚 capacity and returning value to our environment and the communities we serve.鈥�
Proven Food 91仓库 Reduction Technology: How The Earth FLOW System Works
The GMT Earth FLOW system was selected after extensive research into successful models in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Unlike open-air composting, the in-vessel system manages feedstock (including food waste, manure, and agricultural residues) within a sealed environment that controls odors and deters pests. The automated mixing and aeration also significantly reduce labor time. At this time, SWACO鈥檚 unit will only handle food scraps and bulking materials, like wood chips.
鈥淏y establishing a Class II facility, SWACO and Columbus are moving beyond small-scale community gardens and backyard composting to a robust, scalable system,鈥� said Betsy La Force, Business Development at Green Mountain Technologies.