“Composting is a way that we can all, no matter where we live, connect with the value of the land below our feet, understand it as a resource, and contribute to it.” David Paull, Chief Impact Officer, CompostNow
Planting Seeds
Founded in 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina, CompostNow began with a straightforward yet transformative vision: to turn food scraps from landfill-bound waste into a valuable resource for the community. Starting with personal vehicles, bikes, and buckets, CompostNow’s team was driven by the simple act of reclaiming a resource that would otherwise be waste.
When CompostNow started, there was a growing movement for composting due to the lack of municipal services available and resources. What began with just a handful of organizations has now expanded to over 400 nationwide.
Joining the B Corp Movement
Last October, CompostNow officially certified as a B Corporation, after using the B Impact Assessment to benchmark for years. Their certification reflects years of hard work and sustainable growth to be what they are today. Their Chief Impact Officer, David Paull shared their motivation for certification
“We exist to be in business to be more than the typical single stakeholder model. For us, it’s about benefiting the environment, supporting our employees, and creating a financially sustainable company. B Corp is a great way to keep that all in mind and organized within a framework.”
As they grew, officially certifying as a B Corp just made sense to show people that they are a business for good and there’s integrity behind what they do. They pursued certification to preserve the organization that they have built and their commitment to the future of their organization. A big congrats to them on their upcoming 1st B Day!
Increasing Access and Building Circularity with Local Gardeners
Increasing accessibility has been key to growing the composting movement and CompostNow has a ton of initiatives working towards this goal. Most recently, they partnered with the City of Durham to launch an access-controlled drop-off station for composting, alongside the new CompostHere mobile app. This service is designed to make composting more accessible and user-friendly for the public. If you’re looking to start simple, check out locations near you!
Not only are they slinging soil, but CompostNow is also providing solutions for hard-to-recycle materials to divert more waste from the land fill! Some examples of hard-to-recycle materials include batteries, plastic film, styrofoam, and many others. By integrating customer feedback and adhering to waste regulations, they are providing more effective avenues to be less wasteful with the products we use everyday.
From its early days, CompostNow has been community focused. Through its Garden Partner Program, they have used the compost that they create and put it back into local gardens, farms, or even your own backyard! Customers are able to track their contributions, the amount of food waste diverted, and the finished compost produced on their dashboard and decide where to send their accumulated compost.
“Composting has really become a significant part of my life and my family’s. It’s a simple daily act that connects us to our community and the land around us, even in an urban environment.” David Paull, Chief Impact Officer, CompostNow
Phew, that’s certainly going beyond as a business and their numbers reflect it. They have since saved $163,882 for local partners and shared 8,521,888 lbs of compost with local partners. Some familiar local gardens in the Triangle include Durham County Schools, Raleigh City Farm, Hope Gardens, and 57 other partners.
Looking Ahead
As the CompostNow team continues to grow, they remain committed to its core values of sustainability, community engagement, and soil health. We are so happy to have them a part of our B Local community here in the Triangle and look forward to seeing them continue to evolve.
Check out their website to learn more about the composting movement and the impact they have made one compost bin at a time.