Full Circle Solutions CASE STUDY

In 2020, Sean Anderson and Gregory Williams established Full Circle Solutions Hawaii (FCSH) in Waimanalo, Hawaii. They aimed to create premium living soil from the local tree trimmers' mulch and residential food scraps, steering away from waste incineration that is common practice in Hawaii. FCSH aspired to be the first permitted in-vessel food waste composting business in Hawaii, pioneering sustainable waste management solutions for the island chain. To achieve this goal, FCSH sought an adaptable, enclosed on-site composting system to efficiently convert various waste streams like farm, coffee, and food waste into nutrient-rich compost.

Key priorities included environmental sustainability with robust odor and leachate control. The system needed off-grid capability and real-time compost recipe adjustments to manage diverse input materials. FCSH also intended to use the composting system for community education and improved local waste management practices while ensuring transportability for their island location, offering a flexible waste management solution.

GMT supported Full Circle Solutions Hawaii & Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii (SCH) in their selection of the 20’ Intermodal Earth Flow system. The in-vessel composter expedites the hot composting process down to a three-week period by creating the optimal conditions for aerobic decomposition. Its state of the art engineering controls combine automated mixing, bulking agents, positive aeration, and bio-filtration to ensure an environmentally responsible and efficient composting process.

Additionally, repurposing an intermodal shipping container enhanced the system's transportability to the island location. As a forward-looking initiative, the system is also designed to operate on solar power. This groundbreaking installation marked the first-ever permitted compost system in Hawaii, setting a significant milestone for sustainable waste management in the region.