Public Sector Deployment
Case Study: Municipal Waste-to-Protein ROI
A Pacific Northwest city processed 120 tons per week of organics using Nellie’s modular BSFL units. Here’s how the project penciled out, from capital stacking to Scope 3 emissions accounting and frass revenue sharing.
Focus: financing, permitting, lifecycle boundaries, and coproduct offtake
Project At-a-Glance
120 Tons/Week of Organics, 82% Diversion
82%
Waste Diversion
$6.1M
Capex (Cluster + Building)
3.4 yrs
Payback with Grants
18,900 MT
CO₂e Avoided Annually
Diversion verified by a third-party LCA. Frass and larvae volumes were pre-sold to regional farms, offsetting opex and creating a revolving fund for module maintenance.
Financing Plan
How the City Paid for It
The capital stack blended public dollars, grants, and off-take agreements.
- EPA SWIFR grant: $2.4M
- State organics diversion grant: $1.2M
- Green bond issuance: $1.8M
- Larvae & frass off-take prepayments: $700k
Operating costs were offset by disposal savings ($138/ton avoided) and revenue from larvae meal ($1,300/ton) plus frass ($480/ton). Net annual cash flow: $1.78M after staffing, utilities, and maintenance.
Operational Flow
From Transfer Station to Protein
Waste Intake
Pre-processed SSO (source separated organics) arrives via packers, passes through de-packaging, then loads into feedstock hoppers.
Larvae Production
Eight stacked modules nurture larvae for seven days before harvest. IoT telemetry monitors moisture, temperature, and energy draw.
Co-Product Finishing
Larvae meal is pressed and dried onsite; frass is matured and pelletized for regional farms, keeping nutrients local.
Community Impact
Residue heat warms a greenhouse incubator; workforce training created 18 green jobs with apprenticeships.
Voice-Ready FAQs
Municipal Buyers Ask
“Can we permit BSFL modules near residential zones?”
Yes. Units operate in negative pressure rooms with biofilters and have documented odor logs. Include BSFL SOPs in your solid waste permit addendum and reference our compliance playbook.
“What happens to frass revenue?”
The city secured a revenue share with two regional ag co-ops. 60% of proceeds backfill program costs, 40% funds community grants.
“How do we report Scope 3 reductions?”
Integrate BSFL diversion data into the city’s ESG dashboard. Our impact team supplies third-party verified CO₂e factors and can align with GHG Protocol standards.
Download the Municipal ROI Pack
Includes editable payback calculators, funding narrative templates, and a compliance checklist that mirrors what this city used. Access it via the gated Waste-to-Value Guides to keep lead capture centralized.