We believe food waste is never trash

Chomp systems can convert kitchen trim, post-consumer dining room food scraps, meat, grease, oil, all edible liquids, seafood, dairy products, starch, sugar, fruits, vegetables, small bones, soiled paper products, napkins, paper towels, waxed paper, lightweight wood tableware (stir sticks, toothpicks, spoons, knives, forks), fats, fryer oil, grease trap waste, beverages, alcohol, soup, condiments, eggshells, glycerin, and more. Our units can also accept grass clippings, leaves, small sticks, and other yard waste.

Anaerobic food waste digestion systems do not need oxygen to break down food waste, as composting, an aerobic process, does. Because they don’t require oxygen, anaerobic units are fully contained and have no nuisance odors, making them ideal for digesting food waste specifically, and for smaller or public spaces. Anaerobic digestion systems are also ideal for dairy, meat and grease which are rich in energy for creating renewable natural gas, and can pose the largest risks for odor at composting facilities. And unlike composting, AD generates renewable natural gas in addition to a soil amendment biofertilizer, while composting's only output is compost.

Biogas is a renewable fuel source that can be used in a variety of ways, depending on your needs. It can be converted into renewable electricity, heat, renewable natural gas, compressed natural gas to fuel vehicles, or stored in fuel cells to power electric vehicles. To do this, biogas is first scrubbed of sulfur and water, and then pressurized as needed.

Chomp’s post-digester liquid plant food is an organic biofertilizer and can be used for plants or farm crops as a probiotic nutrient. Our biofertilizer adds carbon to the soil for improved plant growth and long-term carbon storage and can be used to offset water needs. It also reduces the reliance on synthetic, fossil fuel-based fertilizers, which can burn plants and leach into ground water. Our biofertilizer is pathogen-free and safe for growing fruits and vegetables, along with flowers, shrubs, and other plants.

Chomp systems are specifically designed for urban settings. Not only do we use an advanced air scrubber system to eliminate odor from the digestion process, we also include full enclosure for food waste and liquids handling. Our systems are designed so there is no nuisance odor associated with food waste, biogas, or digested organic matter.

Yes, our systems are extremely safe, and design features address specific safety concerns. A biogas flare automatically and safely burns off any unused biogas. Hydrogen sulfide is also scrubbed from the biogas. Our liquid plant food is pathogen-free and safe to use with edible plants, as well as around kids and pets.

Our systems are prefabricated and can be built and operational in as little as 3 months.

All you need to start is a level, secure and accessible site. Our systems are compact, and exact site size requirements are determined by the model you are using. Basic utility connections including power, water, sewer, and communications are also required.

Once up and running, our digesters are designed to be simple and easy to operate, with relatively few moving parts and components. Certain parts of the system do require some inspection and maintenance to ensure proper functionality. For example, the biofilter is a critical component to odor elimination and the biofilter media requires occasional replacement. Most parts of the system requiring maintenance are mechanical or electrical. Chomp provides operating and maintenance manuals and also offers comprehensive service packages to manage maintenance needs for you.

Our design team will provide options to fit your site requirements. For example, in our smaller units, an operator could feed the system manually from buckets to a grinding station. From there the food waste will flow automatically into the system. With a larger unit, a design could entail a conveyance piping system from the kitchen or a food processing plant. Another design could entail a cart tipper rolled in or brought in from a collection truck.

We have permitting experts on staff who can provide guidance to your site development team. We have been successful in securing permits for our systems and have a comprehensive understanding of what may be required, though local regulations will vary. Typically, a building permit and fire safety inspection is required. The biogas safety flare is also typically permitted. Depending on your local and state requirements, an environmental review and solid waste exemption may be required, and utility agreements may be needed.

Yes, we offer comprehensive packages that minimize your role to feeding the digester and performing daily housekeeping tasks, while we take care of larger maintenance needs. We can also support you in digester output optimization, liquid plant food management, and education and outreach support.