Rutgers University’s EcoComplex receives Earth Flow composting system

Rutgers University’s EcoComplex, an alternative energy innovation center, has announced its commissioning of a new automated in-vessel composting system for the university’s Cook Campus in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

The Earth Flow In-Vessel composting system from Bainbridge Island, Washington-based Green Mountain Technologies (GMT) will automatically process up to 30,000 pounds of campus materials per month, including food and animal waste. This will reduce the environmental impact and financial cost of hauling waste to landfills while creating compost to enrich campus landscapes, gardens and greenhouses.

Photo courtesy of Green Mountain Technologies

“We’ve been exploring potential composting plans for the Cook Campus for many years. Our new Earth Flow In-Vessel composting system from Green Mountain Technologies will help us divert our cafeteria and animal waste from landfills, which is very important for Rutgers’ sustainability and climate change mitigation strategies,” says Serpil Guran, director of the EcoComplex and project leader at Rutgers.

According to Guran, on-campus organics diversion recycling research and demonstration funding is provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

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“Our research project will provide invaluable data on several types of composting activities. A big thanks to our collaborators, including New Jersey Composting Council, who will provide additional support for this composting research project,” she says.

“The New Jersey Composting Council is excited to work with the team on a pre-composting program, outreach and compost-related research to help ensure a successful food waste and organics recycling program,” says Jairo Gonzalez, president of the New Jersey Composting Council. 

The Earth Flow composting system is an in-vessel compost processor first developed by GMT more than 20 years ago. It automatically mixes, grinds and aerates compostable materials in an enclosed vessel similar to a shipping container. The aeration system enables any exhaust to be vented into a biofilter to eliminate odors while the system is operating. 

Photo courtesy of Green Mountain Technologies

With the system, fresh compostable material is loaded into one end of the container while finished compost is automatically ejected out the other end in a controlled process. 

“We’re thrilled to provide a cutting-edge composting solution for Rutgers,” says GMT founder Michael Bryan Brown. “The Earth Flow is particularly effective at odor-free processing of food waste and compostable plastics, and we believe the program at Rutgers will be a model for other universities to follow.”

Rutgers’ EcoComplex is an off-campus center of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. The EcoComplex, as a multidisciplinary clean energy innovation center, gathers research and education resources in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies that support sustainability, climate change mitigation, the circular carbon economy and social justice.

To watch a video about the project, click here.