Whirlpool introduces at-home food waste recycler

Whirlpool Corp., Benton Harbor, Michigan, announces the release of the Zera Food Recycler, a kitchen appliance that turns food waste into fertilizer. The Zera system–from WLabs of Whirlpool Corporation, the company's innovation incubator–debuted at CES 2017 in Las Vegas Jan. 5 to 8 and is available for pre-orders on Indiegogo.

This product is the first indoor recycler in the United States that converts a week's worth of food waste into ready-to-use homemade fertilizer within 24 hours, the company says. The device conveniently fits into the kitchen, and with a simple push of a button converts household food waste into homemade fertilizer by using a combination of oxygen, moisture, heat and mixing to expedite the decomposition process.

"Zera Food Recycler brings a purposeful innovation to consumer kitchens, and delivers on an increasing demand for more environmentally-driven solutions for the home," says Jennifer Bonuso, senior director, CPG & WLabs. "We know Americans are looking for easier, more efficient ways to recycle food scraps, and the Zera system makes that possible. We're excited to bring this offering to consumers and Indiegogo is a great platform to do so, allowing us to connect with consumers in a new and compelling way."

Families are able to use the Zera system year-round regardless of the weather and can remotely operate the appliance through the Whirlpool mobile app.

The first 50 backers who ordered the Zera system through Indiegogo received the product at an initial super early bird discounted rate of $699. Starting early summer 2017, the Zera system will be available in limited test markets through participating retail partners including TreeHouse, Austin, Abt, Glenview, Illinois, and Williams-Sonoma, San Francisco. The Zera system will also be available for purchase online at select retailer sites and on Zera.com, and will retail for $1,199 manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP).