Each month, we will highlight community heroes that are making a difference in their communities and working to make their local environments cleaner and healthier.
This month, we are taking a look at Compost Queen in Fort Collins, CO!
Compost Queen is a Public Benefit Corporation in Fort Collins Colorado. They are dedicated to fostering a sustainable and regenerative future by empowering individuals and communities to embrace the transformative potential of composting. Biobag Associate spoke to Max Poling with Compost Queen about the organization. Their interview is transcribed below.
What led you to start your composting operation?
Compost Queen began in 2018 after our founder sought sustainable solutions for her own family’s food waste. Frustrated by a lack of local composting options, Jamie started community composting with a few friends.
Who do you serve and how can people get in touch with you if they want to start composting?
Over the last five years we’ve expanded from residential composting to commercial services in 65 gallon wheeled carts. This lets us divert and recycle for single family residences, apartments, townhomes, restaurants, cafeterias and food manufacturers in Northern Colorado. We’re currently focusing on the cities of Fort Collins and Timnath. Visit CompostQueenFC.com to learn more about how our service works, check our service locations or get on our mailing list.
How much organic material do you typically take in on a weekly basis?
Compost Queen is celebrating the Grand Opening of our headquarters at the Back Gate Farm in Fort Collins, allowing us to greatly expand our collection volume. We’re currently taking in 6,000 pounds of organic material per week.
Feel free to add any additional information about your operation as you see fit.
Compost Queen uses decentralized, farm based community composting to leverage a small footprint with a big impact. Operating and hauling material allows for feedstock decontamination at the point of collection, resulting in higher quality end material. We currently have four registered Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity facilities in Larimer County on urban farms.
Fostering community education is a key part to normalizing organics recycling in the Northern Colorado community. As a Woman Owned & Operated business, Compost Queen, led by Jamie Blanchard-Poling, has evolved from a small initiative with a wheelbarrow to a thriving enterprise.
