**UPDATE: All 50 FoodCycler machines have now been allotted. However, if you would like to be put on our waiting list to be notified should Council decide to run the program again or if someone does not pick up their unit, please complete the registration form (see link below). Thank you to everyone who participated in this pilot program.
FoodCycler Pilot Program
The Township of Augusta has entered into an agreement with Food Cycle Science to establish a pilot program that would allow for 50 FoodCycler machines to be purchased by residents of Augusta at a discounted cost of $150 plus HST (FC-30 Model – Regularly $500) or $300 plus HST (Eco 5 (a.k.a. Maestro, Regularly $800) 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/purchase per household is permitted.
How the Program Works
Residents can register to purchase a FoodCycler using the link below. They are available first come, first served to the first 50 residents. Once we sell a certain amount, we will receive the machines and notify residents when they will be available for pick up and they can then come in and pay for their FoodCycler and take it home with them. NOTE: We accept cash, debit or cheque only at the Township office. We do NOT accept credit cards.
Each household that receives a FoodCycler will be asked to track how many “cycles” they run their FoodCycler through each week for 12 weeks. 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 Township of Augusta and similar communities (data to be submitted to Impact Canada). 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 Augusta 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.
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.
The Vortech™ grinding system uses revolutionary technology to pulverize meat, bones, pits, shells, and other food scraps into a nutrient-rich soil which can be mixed into regular soil at your home. This soil is odorless and safe to handle indoors, free of pathogen and bacteria and has been scientifically proven to be beneficial for vegetation growth. You can use right away or save it for later use.
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.
Discussions with Food Cycle Science have indicated that based on previous pilot projects in other municipalities in the area, the Township of Augusta has the opportunity to divert approximately 12.5 metric tonnes of organic waste from the landfill per year with just 50 units.
FoodCycler Website
FoodCycler Purchase Options
Food Cycle Science will be offering two (2) unit sizes to accommodate varying composting and household needs during this pilot project. NOTE: they are only available in the colours shown below. Should this program progress past the pilot stage, the Township plans to also sell the filters for these units as well. The Eco 5 unit was recently renamed. It used to be called ‘Maestro’ and this may still appear on the boxes we receive.
Price $150 (reg. $500) Price $300 (reg. $800)
User manuals for each unit can be emailed to residents before purchase upon request. If interested, email officeclerk@augusta.ca.
