Everglades Earth Cycle: Centralized Compost Drop-off Hubs
A partnership with municipal governments for making hyperlocal composing accessible, sustainable, and economically smart for S. Florida neighborhoods.
Bring a Carbon Cycler to Your Community
Expand the Everglades Earth Cycle Program with Fertile Earth Worm Farm
Transform your municipality into a climate leader while saving money and strengthening community bonds. The Carbon Cycler program makes hyperlocal composting accessible, sustainable, and economically smart for South Florida neighborhoods.
Partner with Fertile Earth Worm Farm to divert organic waste from landfills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create nutrient-rich compost—right in your community.
What is a Carbon Cycler?
A Carbon Cycler is a neighborhood-level composting hub that processes local organic waste into valuable soil amendments. Through our Everglades Earth Cycle Program, Fertile Earth Worm Farm establishes and supports these micro-processing sites throughout South Florida, turning food scraps and yard waste into “black gold” while keeping carbon in the soil—not in the atmosphere.
Unlike traditional waste management that hauls organic material miles away to centralized facilities or landfills, Carbon Cyclers work at the neighborhood level, dramatically reducing transportation emissions and building resilient, self-sufficient communities.
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The Climate & Environmental Case
Municipal composting isn't just waste management—it's climate action.
Composting can significantly reduce carbon emissions and cut the amount of waste communities send to landfills, with the potential to reduce U.S. carbon emissions by millions of tons annually (UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County). When organic waste decomposes in landfills, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas about 56 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period (UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County).
By establishing a Carbon Cycler in your municipality, you will:
- ✓ Prevent methane emissions from organic waste rotting in landfills
- ✓ Sequester carbon in soil through compost application
- ✓ Divert 30–40% of waste volume from landfills, extending their lifespan
- ✓ Reduce transportation emissions by processing waste locally instead of hauling it long distances
- ✓ Create nutrient-rich soil that supports local agriculture and green spaces
Studies show that applying compost can help sequester significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere while preventing topsoil erosion (UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County).
The Economic Case
Composting programs don't just help the environment—they help your budget.
Communities implementing neighborhood composting programs have reported transportation cost reductions of 15–25%, with cities saving over $50 per ton on diverted organic waste—annual savings that can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars (Farmers.gov).
Here's what municipalities save:
- Reduced tipping fees for landfill disposal (typically $50+ per ton)
- Lower fuel and transportation costs from shorter hauling distances
- Extended landfill lifespans, delaying expensive expansions
- Reduced infrastructure strain on waste collection systems
Plus, composting can generate twice as many jobs as landfilling (UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County), creating green economy opportunities right in your community.
The Carbon Cycler program includes:
- Site setup and design consultation
- Equipment recommendations and sourcing support
- Staff and volunteer training
- Ongoing technical support
- Community education materials
- Integration with existing waste management systems
USCC Certified
FLCC Member
FNGLA Member
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your community's size and waste volume. Small neighborhood sites can operate on as little as 1,000 square feet, while larger municipal operations may need 1-2 acres. We design solutions that fit your available space.
Not with proper management! Our training covers proven techniques for odor control, including proper carbon-to-nitrogen ratios, aeration, and moisture management. Well-maintained compost sites have minimal odor.
We guide you through the permitting process and ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations. Our team has experience navigating Florida's environmental requirements.
Participation models are flexible: curbside collection, drop-off stations, or direct community composting. We help design the system that works best for your municipality and residents.
The compost can be distributed to residents, used in municipal landscaping and parks, sold to generate revenue, or donated to community gardens and local farms—creating a truly circular system.
From initial consultation to operational launch typically takes 4-8 months, depending on site preparation, permitting, and equipment procurement. We work within your timeline.
Comprehensive training covers composting science, site operations, equipment use, safety protocols, troubleshooting, community education, and regulatory compliance. We ensure your team is confident and capable.
Absolutely. We work collaboratively with existing haulers and waste management providers to create seamless integration that enhances—not disrupts—current systems.
We provide guidance on proper insurance coverage, safety protocols, and risk management. Many municipalities include Carbon Cyclers under existing liability policies with minimal additional cost.
Yes! The Carbon Cycler model is designed to grow with your community. Start with one neighborhood site and expand to multiple locations as demand and capacity increase.