Commercial composters for restaurants and catering
OCTOEN on-site composters turn prep scraps, plate waste and greasy kitchen waste into fresh compost in a 12-24 hour cycle, with no water or drain connection. Here is how to size one by meals served and which restaurants and caterers already run one.
- 12-24 h
- composting cycle
- Up to 90%
- less wet food waste volume
- No
- water or drain connection
- Own factory
- every system built in Sivas, Türkiye
The challenge
Where food waste slows a kitchen down
- No spare floor spaceRestaurant kitchens are planned to the inch. Equipment that needs a drain line, a water supply or its own room is hard to place.
- Grease, liquids and bonesKitchen waste is oily and wet, and fish and meat prep leave bones and shells. Equipment has to cope with the whole mix.
- Pickups and city rulesEvery organics pickup adds cost and a schedule, and several US cities require food businesses to separate food waste.
How OCTOEN fits
How on-site composting fits a restaurant kitchen
The ECO-30 KSN fits under a counter and the ECO-130 KSN needs about 1,350 × 720 mm (53 × 28 in), so the machine can stand in the kitchen, the dish area or by the back door. Staff load waste through the shift and press one button. In 12-24 hours the waste becomes fresh compost, used as organic fertilizer for kitchen gardens and landscaping. Teruar Urla, with a Michelin star and a Michelin Green Star, runs an ECO-130 KSN and also turns kitchen waste into dry pet food for street animals. Neolokal in Istanbul runs two ECO-30 KSN units, Sodexo processes food waste on site at contract catering sites in Chile, and a UNDP-funded demonstration plans an ECO-30 KSN for a hotel or restaurant business in Poti, Georgia.
- ECO-30 KSN: 30 kg (66 lb) a day, single-phase power, below 45 dB
- ECO-130 KSN: 130 kg (287 lb) a day in a 300 L (79 gal) bin, single-phase, below 45 dB
- ECO-300 KSN: 300 kg (661 lb) a day for central kitchens and caterers, three-phase power
- No water or drain connection: it makes compost, not wastewater
- Built-in odor filtration (activated carbon and UVC) and a 100% stainless steel body
Recommended systems
Sized by the food waste you produce per day. Our engineers confirm the final size after a site review.
Sizing
Sizing by meals served
Start with the meals you serve in a day. A common rule of thumb is about 0.26 kg (0.57 lb) of food waste per meal served, so the ECO-30 KSN covers up to about 115 meals a day, the ECO-130 KSN about 500 and the ECO-300 KSN about 1,150. Size a commercial composter for restaurants for your busiest regular day, not the average. Chains and caterers with a central kitchen add up every outlet that sends waste there. Above 300 kg (661 lb) a day, the ECO-500 KSN and larger models take over.
A restaurant serving 400 meals a day produces about 104 kg (229 lb) of food waste, which fits the ECO-130 KSN.
Source: EPA Ireland, food waste in full-service restaurants
Open the system finderWhere it already runs
Teruar UrlaUrla, TürkiyeSystem: ECO-130 KSN
NeolokalIstanbul, TürkiyeSystem: 2 × ECO-30 KSN
SodexoChileSystem: ECO-130 KSN
UNDP-funded HORECA demonstrationPoti, GeorgiaSystem: ECO-30 KSN, up to 30 kg (66 lb) a day
Rules for food businesses in the US
There is no federal composting mandate; the rules come from states and cities. California's SB 1383 has covered restaurants, hotels and venues (Tier 2) since 2024. Several cities name on-site processing as a way to comply: New York City for covered food service businesses using an in-vessel system, Austin for food-permitted businesses and Seattle as an alternative to composting service. Check the official source before you rely on a rule.
See the rules on our regulations pageQuestions from restaurant and catering teams
Is there a model small enough for one restaurant?
Yes. The ECO-30 KSN handles up to 30 kg (66 lb) of food waste a day, measures 720 × 420 × 730 mm (28 × 17 × 29 in) and runs on single-phase power (208-240 V, 60 Hz in the US). Busier kitchens move up to the ECO-130 KSN.
Can it handle greasy food, bones and shells?
Oily and wet waste is normal input; the machine applies the right recipe automatically. Bones, shells and fibrous waste go through the ECO-100 Shredder first, which handles up to 300 kg (661 lb) an hour and works with every ECO model.
Do we need a water or drain connection?
No. There is no water or wastewater connection; add a little water only if the compost gets too dry. It makes compost, not wastewater, so there is no drain line to plan.
Can kitchen waste become pet food?
Yes. Teruar Urla turns its kitchen waste into dry pet food for street animals. OCTOEN also builds pet food lines; tell us about your waste and we will suggest the route that fits.
What does a commercial composter for restaurants cost?
Price depends on the model, options and site, so we send a written quote. In the US, installation, commissioning and training are quoted separately; the ECO-30 KSN is set up remotely. Limited warranty: 12 months from acceptance or 14 months from shipment.
Find the right size for your kitchen
Tell us how many meals you serve a day, and we will recommend a model and send a written quote.