Martin Trust Center: Closing the Loop

Martin Trust Center Pilot Turns Food Waste into Garden Growth

Over the past months, started March 18th, we finished the Martin Trust Center pilot Hack the Trash Core One on the earthworm composting program demonstrated how a simple, decentralized solution can transform food scraps into valuable resources. What began as food scraps collected from the community has now completed its journey returning to the soil that helps grow new food.

Maya and Roman from the Martin Trust Center are key partners on this pilot.

How the Hack the Trash Core One Pilot Works

The pilot used Hack the Trash Core One designed to process organic waste efficiently. Red Wigglers Worms played a central role by consuming food scraps and other biodegradable materials, breaking them down into nutrient-rich compost.

From Organic Waste to Black Compost to MIT Westgate

One of the most visible results of the pilot was the transformation of organic waste into black compost. This dark, crumbly material is a sign of healthy decomposition and is rich in nutrients that support plant growth. The compost produced by the worms is free of harmful chemicals and can be used in gardens, farms, or landscaping projects.

The process not only reduces the volume of waste but also creates a useful product that closes the loop in organic waste management. Instead of sending food scraps to landfills, where they produce methane, the pilot turns them into a resource that benefits the environment as you can see.

From Scraps to Soil to Supper: The Martin Trust Center Pilot Success

Today, part of the vegetables growing in the Westgate garden are benefiting directly from the nutrients recovered through the pilot program. The same food scraps that might have become a climate problem are now helping produce fresh, healthy food for the community.

This is what we call Closing the Loop. The Martin Trust Center Pilot Closed the Loop on Food Waste.

What about Smell? What about the Worm Tea?

No smell. No mess. Just the rich scent of fresh earth and a healthier future. 🌱🪱

Throughout the pilot, no unpleasant odors were generated. Instead, the finished vermicompost developed the characteristic scent of fresh earth after rain, a sign of healthy biological activity and high-quality compost.

Another development in the pilot is the expected production of worm tea. Worm tea is a liquid fertilizer made by steeping worm castings in water. It contains beneficial microbes and nutrients that promote healthy plant growth when applied to soil or foliage.

On this pilot the worm tea container remained dry, indicating low organic input and dry environment.

The worm tea container remained dry, indicating low organic input and low moisture levels.

From Food Scraps to Fresh Vegetables: Closing the Loop

At Hack the Trash, we believe that every banana peel, coffee ground, and vegetable scrap contains hidden value. By combining community engagement, simple technology, and natural ecosystems, we can transform waste into a resource and create measurable environmental impact where people live.

The Martin Trust Center pilot is more than a composting project, it is proof that communities can take ownership of their organic waste and turn it into something meaningful.

From plate, to earthworm, to soil, to garden, and back to plate. That’s how we close the loop. Special thank you for Maya Freed from MTC and Ysabel in charge of Westgate Sustainability.