[Case Study] Elementary School (Shimizu, Shizuoka) | Evolving from Composting to Zero Maintenance Costs. Fully Installed in All 5 Municipal Schools
CASE STUDY: Elementary School (Shimizu, Shizuoka)
Upgrading from a Compost System to Achieve “Zero Maintenance Costs."
Successfully Implemented in All 5 Schools Across the Municipality Due to Overwhelming Convenience.
Model Installed: Commercial Food Waste Processor Gomi-Suru GH-50
drastically reducing the workload for school lunch staff.
Due to its cost-efficiency and remarkable ease of use,
the system has now been fully rolled out to all five public elementary and junior high schools in Shimizu.
[An educational institution driving SDGs and environmental conservation municipality-wide]
Shimizu West Elementary School
Location: Shizuoka Prefecture
This case study highlights the installation of the commercial food waste processor “Gomi-Suru" (GH-50 model) at Shimizu West Elementary School.
The school was an early adopter of food waste recycling and reduction initiatives, having operated a traditional compost-type processor for nearly 20 years. However, as time passed, finding facilities willing to accept the compost became increasingly difficult. The daily task of manually removing the compost and figuring out how to dispose of it evolved into a significant operational burden for the cafeteria staff.
■ Background: The Limitations of Compost Systems and the Dilemma of Unrepairable Equipment
While the previous compost-type machine successfully reduced the volume of food waste, the school faced a major challenge intrinsic to composting systems: figuring out what to do with the finished compost.
Furthermore, when the aging machine eventually broke down, the original manufacturer had already gone out of business, leaving the school with equipment that could not be repaired. This prompted them to search for a new, long-term solution that would eliminate the need for compost extraction and ensure reliable operation for years to come.
■ Deciding Factors: A “Zero-Residue" Liquefaction System with a Proven Track Record in Schools
When evaluating new models, the absolute requirements were: “No manual compost removal," “Minimal electricity usage," and most importantly, “An extensive track record of successful installations in school cafeterias."
Meeting all these strict criteria, the liquefaction-based food waste processor “Gomi-Suru" caught their attention. In 2018, Shimizu Elementary School conducted an initial test installation. The results were overwhelmingly positive, completely alleviating all previous concerns and earning exceptionally high praise from the staff.
■ Installation & Results: Achieving “Zero" Maintenance Costs and Expanding to All 5 Municipal Schools
(Photo: The GH-50 model installed in an outdoor space with efficient workflow access from the cafeteria)
(Photo: With compost removal completely eliminated, the outdoor installation area remains highly sanitary at all times)
The biggest hurdle—the physical removal of compost—was completely eradicated. Because the food waste is broken down into water and safely discharged, the workload for the cafeteria staff was dramatically reduced. Furthermore, the annual maintenance budget that was previously required for the compost-type machine dropped to “zero" with Gomi-Suru, leading to substantial savings in running costs.
This combination of user-friendliness and exceptionally low operational costs was highly commended by the municipality. Consequently, a phased rollout was initiated to replace all older machines with Gomi-Suru units. With the final installation completed at Shimizu West Elementary School, the system has achieved a remarkable milestone: full deployment across all five public elementary and junior high schools in Shimizu.
- ✅ Total Elimination of Compost Handling: Food waste simply liquefies and disappears, drastically reducing daily physical labor.
- ✅ Massive Maintenance Cost Reductions (Zeroed Out): Annual maintenance budgets required for the old composters are no longer needed, providing outstanding cost performance.
- ✅ Municipality-Wide Adoption: Proven reliability in the field led to complete implementation across all five municipal schools.
■ AIC Expert Commentary
This case study is a prime example of using modern technology to bridge the gap between the “ideals and reality of eco-recycling equipment" faced by educational institutions and municipalities.
[Professional Insights] The Evolution from Composting to Liquefaction
- ✓ The “What to do with the compost" Trap: Many facilities find that while local farmers or residents may initially take the compost, demand often dries up within a few years. Eventually, the facility is forced to pay industrial waste disposal fees just to get rid of it. As a “liquefaction system," Gomi-Suru completely eliminates this exit strategy dilemma, offering the ultimate solution.
- ✓ Reliability and Economics Proven by the Municipality: The fact that the system expanded to all five schools after a single test installation is a testament to its effectiveness. Gomi-Suru’s “burden-free operation for frontline staff" and “overwhelmingly low running costs" clearly met the rigorous standards of public sector deployment.
Frequently Asked Questions (Schools & Educational Institutions)
Model Installed in This Case
Commercial Food Waste Processor “Gomi-Suru" GH-50
A powerful model designed to handle large volumes of food waste at school cafeterias and major facilities. By completely eliminating compost extraction and disposal costs, it achieves significant operational savings.
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[Case Study] Elementary School (Shimizu, Shizuoka) | Evolving from Composting to Zero Maintenance Costs. Fully Installed in All 5 Municipal Schools
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