Pittsburgh-based Ecotone Renewables has developed a technology that converts food waste to fertilizer while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A Pittsburgh startup has perfected food waste to fertilizer technology that turns banana peels, coffee grounds, and leftover sandwiches into powerful plant nutrition while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Ecotone Renewables uses shipping container-sized machines to convert food waste into liquid fertilizer that helps plants grow 30% better than traditional methods.
The company’s ZEUS Biodigester systems are already working at eight locations across Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, including the University of Pittsburgh and major hospitals. Each machine processes 10 tons of food waste per year and prevents 120 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere – equivalent to taking 26 cars off the road for a full year.
Food waste is a massive problem in America. Nearly 40% of all food produced in the United States gets thrown away, creating methane gas in landfills that contribute to global warming. When food rots in landfills without oxygen, it produces methane, which traps 25 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
Ecotone’s food waste to fertilizer solution mimics what happens in nature but speeds up the process. Workers feed food scraps into the ZEUS machine, which mixes the waste with water and grinds it into liquid. Special bacteria break down the mixture without oxygen, a process called anaerobic digestion. The result is “Soil Sauce,” a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer packed with beneficial microbes.
The process also captures methane gas that would normally escape into the air. Instead of harming the environment, this methane gets converted into renewable energy that can power buildings or equipment.
Each ZEUS unit fits inside a standard shipping container, making it easy to install at schools, hospitals, restaurants, or community centers. The machines are fully automated, requiring minimal training to operate. Organizations simply feed their food waste into the system and receive liquid fertilizer in return.
The University of Pittsburgh installed its first ZEUS digester in November 2024 at Posvar Hall. Since then, the machine has processed over 1,000 pounds of food waste from campus dining halls and converted it into fertilizer for campus landscaping. The university plans to install a second unit at Sutherland Hall in the summer of 2025.
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank has partnered with Ecotone since August 2021. The food bank has diverted more than 6,000 pounds of waste from landfills by sending organic scraps to Ecotone’s biodigester. Some of the resulting fertilizer helps grow fresh produce that the food bank distributes to families in need.
Local community gardens report impressive results from using Soil Sauce. Gardeners report remarkable crop yields after applying the fertilizer to fruit trees and vegetable beds. The nutrient-rich formula helps plants absorb water more efficiently and provides essential minerals that enhance soil health over time.
Each gallon of Soil Sauce prevents 90 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. The fertilizer is carbon-negative, meaning it actually removes more greenhouse gases than it produces. This happens because the organic matter in Soil Sauce stores carbon in the soil instead of releasing it as methane in landfills.
Ecotone Renewables was founded in 2019 by three young entrepreneurs: Dylan Lew, Kyle Wyche, and Elliott Bennett. All three were recently named to Forbes magazine’s “30 Under 30” list for energy and green technology. The company operates as a public benefit corporation, meaning it legally commits to serving people and the planet alongside generating profits.
The company reserves 10% of all Soil Sauce produced for underserved communities that lack access to fresh, healthy food. Co-founder Elliott Bennett explains that many Pittsburgh neighborhoods are food deserts where residents can’t easily buy nutritious groceries. Providing free fertilizer helps these communities grow their own fresh produce.
The business model makes this advanced food waste to fertilizer technology affordable for organizations of all sizes. Instead of requiring large upfront purchases, Ecotone offers equipment leasing with a quick return on investment. Organizations save money on waste disposal fees while getting valuable fertilizer for their landscaping needs.
Recent funding success shows growing investor confidence in the technology. In December 2024, Ecotone raised $3 million from major investors, including tech company Cisco and cleantech investor Earth Foundry. The funding closed in February 2025 and will help the company expand internationally.
The timing aligns with increasing pressure on businesses to reduce food waste. Many cities now ban food waste from landfills, forcing restaurants and institutions to find alternative disposal methods. Traditional composting can take months and requires significant space, while ZEUS produces usable fertilizer in just a few weeks.
Currently, Ecotone processes 385 pounds of food waste every week across all its installations. The company produces and distributes over 2,600 gallons of Soil Sauce annually to local communities. These numbers represent just the beginning of what the founders hope will become a global movement.
See also: Creating Economic Opportunities by Reducing Food Waste
The company aims to prevent one billion metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere over the next 10 years. This ambitious goal would equal removing 1% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving this target would require thousands of ZEUS units operating worldwide.
Ecotone’s success demonstrates that food waste to fertilizer technology can strengthen local economies rather than burden them. Each installation creates jobs, reduces waste disposal costs, and produces valuable products that support urban agriculture. The technology proves that fighting climate change and building stronger communities can happen simultaneously.
What a brilliant idea! I’ve never heard of the Zeus Biodigester before, but now that I have, I’ll do more research on them. I know some schools that might be interested.
If you can find some schools who would use it, we’ve love an update sometime!
– Grant
How much energy does this Beast use though to do all it’s biodigesting🤷♂️
Ecotone’s ZEUS system energy usage is estimated at around 580kWh per month. I was not able to find specifics, however their information says the energy required is mostly met by self-generated biogas.
For perspective, the average US household uses about 850kWh of electricity per month in 2025.
Great idea! Any plans to make a Zeus that’s smaller for household use? I would love to support this.