Traveller's Haven Farms

One of my usual sources for inspiration is things I hear on the radio, especially NPR. Recently heard was a bit about compost pickup service. I was impressed. Not only am I inspired to write about it, but I am going to have to see about what is involved in trying to get such a service started here in Central Kentucky. Here is what I know about it so far…

The company that does this service is apparently called Eco-Movement, though I am not sure if that is an official name or not. A website that seems like it could be them is called zerowastenow.com and the original ‘article’ can be found at NPR’s website. The basic idea is a pickup service (similar to trash collection) that focuses on the compostable items from what appears to be businesses only at this point.

A few more details that help to make the process work well include the following:

• Pricing is competitive – Even to point of actually being a cost savings versus the amount that was being paid to trash collection services previously. The amount of trash being collected is going down and in some cases is disappearing completely. More importantly though is the amount being charged is much less.
• Charge for actual usage – Trash was apparently a flat rate amount based on anticipated pickups and I am sure a built-in cushion amount. The composting pickups only charge for the actual amount (presumed based on weight or volume) that is actually picked up.
• Training – The composting company spends time with each business training them in what is compostable and what is not and helps them streamline the process to make it work.
• Timely – Apparently, in several cases, the smaller businesses do not have space to wait for a weekly pickup, so it occurs daily, or regularly enough work for them.
• Recycling Bonus – As a bonus it would appear they are also picking up recyclable materials at the same time, without necessarily requiring the recycle goods to be sorted by types.
• Compost – At the end, the compostable material is taken to one of two sites. It becomes an unclear at this point if they actually compost it or if is doled out as raw materials for composting, but it goes to farmers and landscapers in the area. I suspect it is broke down via composting and then used by those two groups. I am not sure if there is a charge or if they get the materials for free at this point. It begs the question though to be sure.

Given this seemingly beautiful model, I am thinking seriously of calling and getting more details. I wonder what is required to start a commercial composting business in this area using a similar model. I further wonder what, if any, bureaucratic obstacles would stand in the way. It would seem the perfect side business for a farm. Ah, but to have land…

* – image used from Eco-Movement website