University of South Florida CASE STUDY

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg launched its GreenCycle composting program to reduce food waste generated on campus and turn it into a valuable resource. Supported by funding from the USDA, the Student Green Energy Fund, and Duke Energy, the initiative was designed to divert organic materials from the landfill, produce nutrient-rich compost for campus landscapes and gardens, and create opportunities to donate compost to local urban farms and offer it for sale through community markets.

To bring that vision to life, the University partnered with Green Mountain Technologies to implement an in-vessel composting system capable of efficiently processing food waste generated by campus dining operations. The University sought a reliable, easy-to-operate solution that would integrate seamlessly into daily campus operations while supporting long-term waste diversion, compost production, and hands-on learning opportunities for students pursuing careers in sustainable waste management.

Green Mountain Technologies designed and implemented an Earth Flow IM-20 composting system tailored to the University's campus food waste program. Installed behind the campus dining facility, the system is designed to process 1,000+ pounds of food waste. The system mixes a blend of university cafeteria food waste and wood chips, providing an efficient, on-site solution for managing organic waste.

This Earth Flow system is equipped with the WebMACS® control system to continuously monitor and automate the composting process, including automatic temperature management to support consistent composting performance while reducing operator involvement. The facility also includes an automated tote tipper for efficient material loading and a fully integrated in-vessel biofilter for effective odor control. Together, these features streamline daily operations, simplify system management, and help the University produce high-quality compost from campus-generated organic materials.