FoodCycler® by Casella

Over 125,000 North American households are already using FoodCycler®, so we are ready to answer your questions.

• WHERE CAN I SET UP MY FOODCYCLER?

  Nearly any covered area with access to an outlet. The FoodCycler must be in a closed, dry environment where there is no risk of it being rained on or otherwise subjected to the elements. Possible locations include heated garages, basements, or your kitchen.

• WHAT SHOULD I CYCLE?

  The best cycle is one with a lot of variety. Please see the acceptable list tab for a general list of what you can and cannot process in the FoodCycler Eco 5.

• WHAT COMES OUT OF THE FOODCYCLER? AND WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT?

  After you run your FoodCycler and open the lid, you’ll see your food waste has shrunk by about 90% and now resembles dry coffee grounds. We call this material Foodilizer^®. It is not compost, but it can be used as an ingredient for producing great compost.

  You have options for what to do with your Foodilizer:

  • Add it to your existing backyard composter if you have one, or bring it to a neighbor who composts. Follow your normal backyard composting routine, treating Foodilizer like food scraps.

  • Apply it to your lawn by lightly broadcasting across the grass.

  • If applying to a garden bed, Food Cycle Science recommends an application rate of 1 part Foodilizer for every 10-20 parts soil. In general, apply more Foodilizer if you have a mostly vegetarian diet, and less if you have a more omnivorous diet. Till your Foodilizer into the soil 4 weeks before planting seeds or transplants. For a deeper dive, Click Here.

  • No garden or lawn? No problem! Bring your Foodilizer to a local drop-off or community garden that accepts food waste. And don’t worry! Time is on your side – since the material is shelf stable, you can hold onto it for several weeks or more as long as you keep it dry. Learn more in our Resident Guide.

• HOW LONG DOES THE CYCLE LAST?

  In the FoodCycler Eco 5^®, a typical cycle takes between 4-9 hours for the food waste to become completely dehydrated and processed.

  The time needed depends on the amount of food waste being processed, the density of the food wastes and the moisture levels contained in each. The unit’s cooling time lasts less than a half hour on average.

• HOW MUCH ENERGY DOES THE UNIT CONSUME?

  Each cycle consumes approximately 1.5 kWh per cycle, which is roughly equivalent to having a desktop computer running for the same amount of time as the cycle. Depending on where you live, using the FoodCycler regularly should not cost you more than $2-$4 per month.

  The FoodCycler has built-in sensor technology that monitors the dryness and humidity of the food waste. Once complete, the unit will stop the cycle automatically.

• HOW LONG WILL MY FILTERS LAST?

  The carbon filters last between 3-6 months with regular use, or 500 cycle hours. Customers receive a full year supply of filter media with their FoodCycler. After the first year, customers will receive filter media refills by mail. To request an earlier refill, reach out via our app or email. The life expectancy of the carbon filters is determined by the moisture content of the food waste, and the natural odors of the food waste. Denser, wetter and smellier food wastes will go through filters faster than simple veggie scraps and eggshells. The filter light sensor is a guide only - the best indication of whether your filters require replacement is odor. Please see your device manual for instructions to reset the filter light.

• WHAT ARE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS?

   

  Terms And Conditions

You’ll be amazed at all the types of food you can feed your FoodCycler Eco 5^®.

Download the Acceptables Poster

Want to learn more? Take a sneak peek at the Resident Guide you’ll receive when you receive and unbox your very own FoodCycler.

Resident Guide PDF

What does it cost and what do I get?

Unburden your bin and potentially save on your monthly trash service - carbon refills + risk-free warranty for just $19.99/month.

Join the thousands who have discovered all the benefits of a better food waste solution. FoodCycler by Casella residential customers pay only $19.99/month and a one-time $50 setup fee. This amount includes the appliance, the countertop bucket, quarterly replenishment of carbon filter pellets, ongoing customer support, and a full product warranty*.

*The full product warranty covering manufacturing defects and performance issues is active for the entire duration of your service subscription, provided the unit is used as directed in the accompanying user manual. However, please be advised that the warranty may become void if the unit is misused, altered, tampered with, or disassembled. Misuse includes but is not limited to using the unit for purposes other than food waste recycling, operating the unit outdoors, or using unapproved accessories. Any attempt to repair or modify the unit, or any use of the unit in a manner contrary to the instructions provided, may result in voiding the warranty. In such cases, the unit's return and/or repair will be subject to charges at our discretion. We encourage our customers to reach out to our dedicated customer support team at casella@foodcycler.com with any concerns or questions regarding the proper use of the FoodCycler unit to ensure a satisfying and trouble-free experience.

Does FoodCycler have a good carbon footprint?

Yes. When you and your neighbors make the switch to FoodCycler, you can reduce the carbon footprint of your food waste. The appliance uses electricity, which produces emissions. But these emissions are quickly offset by reductions in disposal and trucking.

Every community is going to be a little different in the specifics. The FoodCycler uses about 1 to 1.5 kilowatt hours of electricity per cycle, which has a footprint. But managing your food scraps at home prevents disposal emissions and helps to build soil carbon. If you’re able to reduce your trash pickups, it can also reduce trucking emissions. In one community, using EPA factors, we have estimated that managing household food waste onsite with FoodCycler can reduce emissions by approximately 85% compared to traditional disposal.

Is FoodCycler good for my community?

With FoodCycler, you’re taking care of your food scraps locally. Once your food waste has been processed into a dry, shelf-stable material, you have a lot more choice in how to manage it. You can keep it around longer and it will be easier to transport. Just keep it dry.

So, what can you do with it? If you have the space, you might decide to compost it in your backyard and use it in your garden. You might share it with a neighbor or walk it to a community garden. Or you might bring it to a town drop-off or farmer’s market collection point so it can make its way to local compost sites. Our hope is that every community will find its own unique combination of opportunities to use FoodCycler in support of local food programs, urban farmers, community gardens, school garden clubs, and more.

How does FoodCycler line up with sustainability at Casella?

Casella has a long-standing commitment to sustainability. We have been collecting recyclables since the 1970s and source separated food waste since the 1990s. But household food waste collection has not taken off the way many of us would have hoped. With FoodCycler we hope to see dramatic increases in food waste recovery and household participation.

Among our 2030 Sustainability Goals, we are working to reduce emissions, improve fuel efficiency, and recover more material from the disposal stream. Learn more at our Sustainability Report.