The Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District CASE STUDY

Fairbanks Soil & Water Conservation District (FSWCD) received funding through a food waste reduction grant to improve and expand food waste diversion practices in Fairbanks, Alaska. The project aims to establish curbside food waste collection, a free community drop-off location, and educational programs to support community composting. In partnership with Golden Heart Waste Management (GHWM) and Green Star of Interior Alaska (GSIA), FSWCD also seeks to develop a sustainable food waste management model that can be adapted for rural Native villages and communities with limited resources.

To support these efforts, FSWCD needed a reliable composting solution capable of processing food waste year-round and producing finished compost within a practical time frame despite Interior Alaska’s extreme climate.

FSWCD selected GMT’s Earth Flow 40’ Intermodal to process food waste, manure waste, and wood chips into high-quality finished compost. This insulated vessel with automatic aeration allows Fairbanks to overcome extreme cold weather conditions by maintaining moisture and microbial control throughout the process.

The Earth Flow system provides a quick composting turnaround while minimizing odor and labor requirements, allowing the system to efficiently process food waste and produce high-quality compost. Its efficient operation helps reduce ongoing labor costs, supporting a sustainable composting program without additional federal funding. These benefits make the Earth Flow a practical solution for rural communities with limited resources.

The Earth Flow’s reliable performance and efficient operation make it a desirable solution for expanding composting access to rural communities across Interior Alaska.