FAIRBANKS, ALASKA – Thanks to federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), the community of Fairbanks, Alaska has officially launched the region’s first commercial-scale, in-vessel composting facility. 

Project partners gathered September 25, 2026 at Golden Heart Waste Management for a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the start of this community-driven composting initiative that has been years in the making.

This milestone achievement was accomplished by the Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) as the recipient of the USDA funding, in partnership with Golden Heart Waste Management, a locally owned and operated waste-service provider offering commercial refuse collection, roll-off dumpsters, and recycling programs.

At the center of this project is the Earth Flow IM-40, an award-winning, state-of-the-art in-vessel composting system designed by Green Mountain Technologies. Built into a 40-foot shipping container, the Earth Flow is fully automated, highly efficient, and ideal for both urban and remote communities. It can process up to 1,000 pounds of organic waste per day, transforming food scraps, yard trimmings, and biodegradable packaging into nutrient-rich compost for local soils.

Along with procuring the Earth Flow system, project partners developed a pilot program aimed at diverting food waste from the landfill, reducing long-term disposal costs, and supporting Interior Alaska’s growing interest in sustainable business practices. The project reflects Golden Heart Waste Management’s commitment to innovation, environmental stewardship, and strengthening the region’s waste-management infrastructure.

“Golden Heart Waste Management was excited to partner with the Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District,” said Andrew Rossow, General Manager with Golden Heart Waste Management. “We see this as an important investment in our community—one that can strengthen sustainable practices and build a successful landfill diversion program. Our goal is to develop a composting model that can serve other communities across Alaska, including villages.”

Fairbanks SWCD will host monthly community drop-off events, where residents can bring three-gallon buckets of food scraps to a pop-up site at Green Star. Starter buckets will be available for pickup at the Fairbanks SWCD office, along with clear guidelines on what materials the Earth Flow system accepts and scheduled drop-off times.

“When you take something that would normally be thrown away and destined to sit in our ever-growing landfill but instead contribute to something that will help build and enrich our community’s land, you create possibilities and a future story,” said Felicia Gunn, Compost Coordinator with Fairbanks SWCD. “Transforming waste into a resource gives us an opportunity to build our template for a healthier, more resilient Fairbanks.” 

The USDA funding was competitively awarded via the Compost and Food Waste Reduction Cooperative Agreements initiative, administered by the USDA-NRCS. The goal of these cooperative agreements is to assist local and municipal governments with projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. 

“This project will generate compost and divert food waste from landfills. It will increase compost access for local producers, and it will improve soil health and add value to local gardens,” said Austin Shero, Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations with the USDA-NRCS in Alaska, who represented the agency at the ribbon cutting event. “These are wins for our partners, for our farmers, and for our food system.”