Sprout: Compost and grow in one
Year: 2024 Tools: Rhinoceros 3D, Keyshot, Adobe Creative Suite
Intro
Sprout is a compact, energy‑efficient composter designed for single‑person households living in small spaces. Its aim is to turn everyday food waste into useful compost while integrating planters so users can grow herbs or small plants, creating a more circular home ecosystem.
Process
I began by investigating food‑waste statistics and the challenges of current composting methods, including inefficiencies in aeration, temperature, moisture control, and high energy use. Sprout was designed to be countertop‑friendly, allowing easy daily waste collection in a removable bin. When full, the container is sealed and placed into the main unit, where scraps are shredded, heated, and aerated, accelerating decomposition to about one week. For user involvement, I added manual turning and handle aeration when indicator lights signal. Exterior planters attach magnetically so compost can be immediately used for growing.
Outcome
Sprout delivers a functional, aesthetic solution: a small‑footprint composter that processes food waste efficiently while minimizing energy use. It closes the loop by allowing users to compost effectively and use the compost in adjacent planters, reinforcing sustainability and personal impact in circular living
The blade shreds and aerates the food waste, with manual turning for additional aeration as needed.
The compost is aerated by pulling down and turning the handle, which moves and mixes the compost to allow air to circulate.
The removable countertop container collects food waste and is placed in the composter when full for processing.
The composter is insulated and heats to the optimal temperature, maintaining it to accelerate the composting process.
Once the countertop composter’s container is full, it’s sealed and locked before being placed back into the main unit. The battery powers a blending and chopping cycle to break down the food scraps into smaller pieces and heats the container to the ideal composting temperature. Insulation helps retain the heat, speeding up the process and minimizing energy use.
The compost can go in the magnetically attached planters, with the rest used in gardens or donated to local nurseries.
When the indicator light signals, aeration is needed. A bottom twist wheel can be pulled down and manually rotated to turn the internal blades. This action aerates the compost, ensuring oxygen reaches the materials to support effective decomposition.
