Resources for Businesses

Composting for Businesses

Yes, you TOO can compost! If you are in need of a compost service for your business or are simply looking for ways to reduce your office's or restaurant's organic waste, look no further. Here you will find all necessary resources to get started in Tennessee.

If you are a food provider and are looking to reduce the amount of single-use to-go plastic waste that your business produces, please keep scrolling down the page for our recommendations.

Compost Service Options:
*Pricing varies by mass and frequency of pickups.

Chattanooga and Surrounding Areas:

Compost house

Weekly collection of compost buckets or receptacle from office or cafe
10 gallon compost credit per month
Chattanooga Zip Codes 37402, 37403, 37404, 37405, 37408, 37409* 30750*, 37350, 37377*
- **Are partial service areas. Please sign up and a Compost House representative will contact you if you fall outside the current service area
Pricing:
- $24/month weekly pickup for small offices
- $96.34/month -- One, 13-gallon receptacle, collected weekly
- $92.36/month Five, 5-gallon buckets, collected weekly
14-Day Free Trial
https://www.composthouse.com
(864) 278-2322

Knoxville and Surrounding Areas:

Green Heron Compost

Scheduled pickup of compostables for businesses
The Starter Bundle includes your 5 gallon Green Heron Compost Bin, a bin liner, and your Composting Guide delivered straight to your door. Your bundle also includes your first pickup free of charge.
We can provide 32 gallon garbage bins upon special request and custom quote.
Request your pickup date at least one day in advance.
When your pickup request has been approved, leave your Green Heron Compost bin out the night before your scheduled pickup.
We will haul off your compostables and replace your bin liner.
Pricing is dependent on your desired frequency of pickups.
24 pickups: $249
Single pickup: $12
More options on website
Schedule at your convenience
https://www.greenheroncompost.com/

Memphis and Surrounding Areas:

compost fairy

Once a week, the Compost Fairy collects your bin and delivers a squeaky-clean fresh one
$50/month for office or restaurant service
Compost Fairy will provide you with a 14-gallon roller bin to fill up with compostable materials generated in the break room or the prep kitchen
Your finished compost can be used as a nutrient-rich mulch for your landscaping or be donated to a nearby school or community garden
Services in Midtown, Downtown, Uptown, Orange Mound, and University District
https://compostfairy.com
(901)383-3549

Nashville and Surrounding Areas:

Compost Nashville

Weekly pickup of 65-gallon compost bin
Receive a window sticker for your storefront
Featured spot on Compost Nashville website
Twice a year, Compost Nashville will donate compost made from your waste to a local farm, community garden or other organization
Receive an annual Waste Diversion Summary
Pricing dependent on mass and frequency of pickup
https://compostnashville.org
(615)380-1090

The compost company

Full service pickup and processing in Nashville, Clarksville, and across Middle Tennessee
Compost Company team conducts an onsite visit to determine how much of your waste is compostable
Work with you to determine the best bins for your space and service frequency
Services for events and one time collection
https://www.compostcompany.com
(615)398-0209

Regener8

Provides collection of food scraps
https://generatecompost.com/
https://generatecompost.com/contact

Earth savers

Daily to Weekly pickups
Accepts Soiled Paper, Yard Debris, Organics, Food Waste
Bins range from 20-gallon bins to 65 gallon carts
Service Dock or Trash Enclosure pickup
EarthSavers customizes recycling and food waste collection to make waste diversion work with the way you do business
Service the receptacles where you place them as often as you need.
https://www.earthsavers.org/main
(615)481-9640

Tri-Cities and Surrounding Areas:

hoffman Composting

Hoffman Composting is located just outside of Johnson City in Washington County, Tennessee
Collection service area includes most of Johnson City and Jonesborough
Hoffman Composting is a local business owned and operated by Joe Hoffman
This Aerated Static Pile (ASP) facility is powered by solar panels installed by local company Greene Tech Renewable Energy
Contact Joe Hoffman for more information and pricing specific to your needs
Services for events and one time collection
https://www.hoffmancomposting.com
(423)943-0712

Hosting an Event?

Contact any of these services to inquire about a one-time pickup catered to your needs.

Looking for non-service options?

Check with local farms in your area to see if they will accept your compostable material.
Check out the ShareWaste community to find a place for your organic waste.
Do it yourself! Look into vermicomposting for your office and feel empowered to make a difference yourself.
Create a Green Team in your office and make it a group effort!

Learn about Vermicompost

Learn how to start a Green Team

Visit the ShareWaste website

Do you know of other compost options not listed here?

Compostable To-Go Products for Food Providers:

You can make a great impact with your business by changing the types of to-go containers you give out. There are many items available today that can be composted at home by your customers, reducing the amount of single-use plastic waste that is sent to our landfills. Please consider switching to one of these products. They might cost a little more but they are so much better for the environment. If you cannot afford to cover the cost of switching to these products, consider adding an optional charge of anywhere from .25 to $1 to customers' bills to help you cover the cost of providing environmentally friendly options. But don't be a victim of greenwashing! To make sure your to-go items are actually accepted for composting, be sure to purchase items that are ASTM d6400 certified 100% compostable. Some of the other classifications are partially compostable or biodegradable, which is hardly the same thing. The Compost Company in Ashland City recommends these brands: WorldCentric, Eco-Products, & Verterra for cups, plates, bowls, and utensils. For bags, they recommend EcoSafe, BioBag, BioTuff and Unni. Confused or not sure what to buy? Email us for help.

Compostable in back-yard piles:

Post-Consumer Recycled Paper Straws

Wheat Stem Straws

Plant Fiber To-Go Containers

These are the best products to buy because they can be composted in back-yard piles. Straws made from paper, pasta or wheat stems are a better choice than compostable or "biodegradable" plastic. Contact us for a discount code to order the Hay Straws! pictured above. World Centric unbleached plant fiber containers pictured right are made with no wax or plastic lining and are BPI Certified compostable. Available in many convenient sizes, including catering pans which are available with fiber lids and a plant based bio-lining for leak resistance. To purchase these products, visit worldcentric.com

Compostable in a Commercial Facility:

Eco-Products

World Centric

Although reusable/washable materials are always better, these products work well for food providers who absolutely cannot use reusable containers for dine-in. If you choose to use compostable plastic, you must complete the circle by making sure these items get composted by one of the commercial composting companies listed above or you are barely making a difference. And you MUST make sure your customers understand that these items are not recyclable with petroleum-based plastic. Otherwise, these items might contaminate regular recycling streams and your intentions might end up doing more harm than good. Need further clarification? Email us for help.