Seattle, WA – April 11, 2015 – Seattle-based Impact Bioenergy has just completed an agreement with ForTheGood Public Benefit Corporation (FTG) as the first U.S. and Washington State customer of the HORSE microdigester. The HORSE is a living machine that uses biomimicry to convert foodwaste into renewable energy and fertilizer, with zero waste.
ForTheGood is working on building a community-scaled “hyperlocal” enterprise with craft food/beverage businesses and urban farmers to divert their rich bio resources from hauling and disposal. FTG is focused on taking fossil fuel out of the waste recycling and fertilizer equations. That in turn creates the opportunity to take the truck out of the food supply equation as well. The three biggest benefits to onsite organics recycling are 1) diversion from disposal and export 2) production of valuable biofertilizer and 3) production of renewable bioenergy. Together, with Seattle Urban Farm Company, FTG intends to add urban greenhouse food production to fully capture the heat, humidity, CO2 and fertilizer benefits by coupling a greenhouse to the bioenergy system.
On January 1, 2015, the City of Seattle Ordinance #124582 no longer allowed food and compostable paper, including food-soiled pizza boxes, paper napkins and paper towels, in the garbage. The HORSE microdigester offers a local and enterprising solution for compliance with this ordinance in a completely innovative way. No collection or export of organic waste from the city is necessary.
FTG has entered a collaboration with Impact Bioenergy called Community Supported Bio to bring these benefits to individual neighborhoods and businesses. FTG & Impact will jointly develop and deploy, in phases, a 1 mile radius closed loop for organics with no collection truck, enabling a net-negative carbon ecosystem.