FoodCycler Pilot Project
Menu
Due to significant demand, all units for the Winter 2024 FoodCycler Pilot Project have been sold and assigned to local residents. Moving forward, the Town is maintaining a waitlist to determine if there is enough interest to run another pilot program following the completion of the current pilot.
To encourage at-home composting and reduce the amount of organic material going to the landfill, the Town of Arnprior is partnering with FoodCycle Science to host a pilot program for Arnprior residents with the FoodCycler countertop composter system.
FoodCycle Science offers a Municipal Pilot Program that is subsidized and supported by Impact Canada through funding received from the Government of Canada. Through this collaboration, the Town has secured one hundred (100) units for purchase by Town residents at a much reduced price.
The basics of the pilot program is:
- Purchase a FoodCycler unit at a cost of $150.00 (FoodCycler FC-30) to $300.00 (FoodCycler Maestro / Eco 5)
- Track the number of cycles over a 12-week period
- Complete a survey at the end of the 12-week period
How To Purchase
The Town of Arnprior has procured one hundred (100) FoodCyclers which can be purchased on a first-come-first-served basis through the Town's PerfectMind online portal.
Benefits of Countertop Composting
Did you know that up to 50% of household waste is composed of food waste and other organic products? Here are some reasons why countertop composting can benefit your family and our environment:
- Reducing Our Carbon Footprint: By helping to reduce food waste going to the municipal landfill, you are supporting our ability to extend the life of our landfill site and reduce your carbon footprint. Reducing organic materials going to the landfill will also help to reduce our impact on the environment through reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
- Producing Nutrient-Rich Soil: The FoodCycler transforms your food waste into a rich soil that you can use in your garden and flowerpots. The process reduces food waste by up to ninety percent (90%) depending on the waste placed into the unit in each cycle. The resulting soil is also low in odour and less attractive to wildlife than traditional compost containers. If you do not have a place to use the nutrient-rich soil that your FoodCycler produces, ShareWaste is a community-based network that allows people to donate and/or accept organic waste to gardeners and gardens in the region.
- Speeds Up The Compost Process: The process speeds up the compost process so that food waste can be reduced to soil within hours, instead of months with traditional backyard composting.
- Easy To Use, Quiet and Odourless: The countertop composter is easy to use and maintain with no special training or skills required. The unit is also quiet, compact and odourless during regular operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
| 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, odorless 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. You can learn more on the FoodCycler website. |
| How does the FoodCycler countertop composting process work? |
|
The FoodCycler speeds up the compost process through its revolutionary low-sound and low-odour grinding technology. The Vortech™ grinding system pulverizes meat, bones, pits, shells, and other food scraps. Over the course of 4-9 hours, the composter will break down food waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. The FoodCycler works its magic through three stages:
You can read more about the science behind the FoodCycler unit on their blog. |
| How much electricity would a FoodCycler use? |
|
Each cycle consumes approximately 0.8-1.5 kWh per cycle, which is roughly equivalent to having a desktop computer running for the same amount of time as the cycle. Depending on where you live, each cycle should not cost you more than a couple of cents. The FoodCycler has built-in sensor technology that monitors the dryness and humidity of the food waste. Once complete, the unit will stop the cycle automatically. |
| How long does the FoodCycler process last? |
|
In the Maestro / Eco 5™ FoodCycler®, a typical cycle takes between 4-9 hours for the food waste to become completely dehydrated and processed into the by-product For the FC-30 units 4-8 hours (with an average of 5 hours) for the food waste to become completely dehydrated and processed. The time needed depends on the amount of food waste being processed, the density of the food wastes and the moisture levels contained in each. Please note that these estimates exclude the unit's cooling time which lasts less than a half hour on average. |
| What types of food waste can the Food Cycler process? |
|
While a full guide is provided with each unit at pick-up, the lists below outline a general rule of thumb with regard to what items can and cannot be processed by the FoodCycler. Suitable for Use:The following is a brief list of items that are suitable for the FoodCycler unit:
Acceptable in small amounts:The following items may be placed into the FoodCycler unit in small amounts:
Cut Up Prior:The following items should be cut up into smaller pieces before placing into the FoodCycler unit:
Not Acceptable:The following items should not be placed into a FoodCycler unit:
|
| What is expected of me if I participate in the pilot project? |
|
Each household that receives a FoodCycler will be asked to track how many “cycles” they run their FoodCycler through each week of the first twelve (12) weeks of use. 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 Town 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. Once the pilot is over, the FoodCycler is yours to keep and continue using to reduce your carbon footprint.
|
| What is the difference between the two models available? |
|
There are two (2) FoodCycler models available: FC30 and Maestro / Eco 5 as described below.
FoodCycler FC-30Slightly more compact, the original FoodCycler FC-30 boasts a 2.5L bucket capacity and is the perfect household helper to turn your food waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment in just hours. The FoodCycler FC-30 takes approximately 4 to 8 hours and uses 0.8 kWh of electricity.
This unit is available at a subsidized price of $150.00 plus HST (originally $500 plus HST) for Town residents.
FoodCycler Maestro / Eco 5The 5L bucket capacity makes it perfect for families and anyone with lots of food scraps. The FoodCycler Maestro / Eco 5 can tackle even the toughest of jobs in just hours, transforming your food waste into a nutrient rich soil amendment. And just like the original, the Eco 5 fits seamlessly into your daily routine taking 6 to 8 hours and using only 1.3 kWh of electricity.
This unit is available at a subsidized price of $300.00 plus HST (originally $800 plus HST) for Town residents.
|
| I have some questions. Who can I reach out to? |
|
Questions about the FoodCycler pilot program can be directed to the Town's Environmental Engineering Officer.
By Mail: Town of Arnprior 105 Elgin Street West Arnprior, ON K7S 0A8
By Phone: (613) 623-4231 ext. 1832
By Email: |
Contact Us