California-based Mill Industries, which aims to convert food waste into chicken feed on a subscription basis, and The City of Tacoma have agreed to pilot a new strategy for using technology to address residential food waste. 

As per the agreement, Tacoma residents will receive prioritized access to the Mill Membership for which subscription costs (USD 33 a month) are borne by residents. 

Every Tacoma resident who becomes a Mill member will receive a kitchen bin that dries, shrinks, and de-stinks kitchen scraps overnight, transforming them into nutrient-rich food grounds. These grounds will then be picked up (by scheduling an appointment on the Mill app) and returned to Mill, which will convert these into safe and nutritious chicken feed ingredients.

The company claims that this new pilot program allows residential customers to reassess and reduce the volume of their curbside waste service and save up to USD 25.60 per month on their waste bill by downsizing their garbage containers. In addition, the company also claims that members who use Mill bins, instead of throwing food in the trash, can save up to a net half-ton of CO2 emissions per household per year.