​Coffee Waste Doesn’t Have to Pollute

Warm Heart Worldwide in partnership with Coffee Mill and Waste Free '23 are
helping coffee communities in Ethiopia protect water, reduce emissions, and create local income.

In Sidama, Ethiopia, the partnership works with local coffee mills and partners to demonstrate a simple, off-grid solution that transforms coffee husk waste and polluted wastewater into biochar, clean water, and climate action.

This is a practical, community-led approach to sustainability—designed for remote coffee mills.
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Coffee Waste Is a Hidden Environmental Challenge
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​Ethiopia produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of coffee husk each year. Much of it is burned or dumped. At the same time, wastewater from wet processed coffee cherry mills is often released untreated into rivers.

These practices can lead to:

• Water pollution
• Increased emissions
• Lost opportunities for local communities

​For many small and off-grid coffee mills, conventional waste treatment systems are not affordable or practical.

Warm Heart Worldwide became involved to help demonstrate a better option.
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How We are  Addressing Coffee Waste

At a pilot site in Bensa, Sidama, Warm Heart Worldwide supports local implementation of a biochar-based system that addresses both solid and liquid waste from coffee processing.
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Step 1: Coffee Husk → Biochar

• Locally built TLUD biochar system
• Powered by a small solar panel
• Constructed using local materials

Step 2: Biochar → Clean Water

• Biochar filters polluted coffee wastewater
• Captures organic material and nutrients
• Treated water reused for coffee washing

One system solves two waste problems.

Environmental, Climate, and Community Impact

Environmental Protection

• Cleaner rivers and waterways
• Reduced emissions from burned coffee husk
• Long-term carbon storage through biochar

Water Security

• Reduced freshwater extraction
• Water reuse at the mill

Local Livelihoods

• Biochar sold locally
• Increased crop yields (≈20%)
• Improved livestock health and productivity

​What was once pollution becomes a resource that supports farming families.
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A Proven and Scalable Approach

Similar coffee waste biochar systems are already operating in Brazil, Vietnam, and across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

The Sidama pilot confirms that:

• 100% of coffee husk and wastewater can be reused
• Systems function in off-grid, remote settings
• Communities can manage and benefit from the solution

​Warm Heart Worldwide focuses on solutions that communities can own and maintain.
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Designed for Scale, Not Profit

All system designs and operating methods are fully open source.
This ensures:

• No licensing fees
• No proprietary barriers
• Faster adoption by cooperatives and communities

Your support helps fund training, local implementation, and expansion, not expensive technology.
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How Donations Support This Project

Contributions to Warm Heart Worldwide help:

• Train local operators and farmers to make and use biochar
• Reduce pollution across entire watersheds
• Strengthen climate resilience in farming communities
• Expand the system to additional coffee mills
• Improve the livelihoods of coffee processors and farmer

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Help Coffee Become Part of the Climate Solution

Coffee doesn’t have to pollute water or worsen climate change.

With the right tools and partnerships, it can regenerate ecosystems and support livelihoods.