Novel compost company finds fertile ground in Carleton Place

An Ottawa Valley business that launched a unique compost service in Almontetwo years ago is expanding.

Several hundred households, a handfulof restaurants and even a few schools have signed up with Just Good Compost and its private organic waste collection program.

The husband and wife team of WilliamAffleck and Kelley Scott expanded their simple solution to small-scale household compost collection to Carleton Place this month.

"Small municipalities are in a real bind because it doesn'tmake any sense to have a compost program," said Affleck, pointing to the low population density, long distances and "vermin trouble" that can make rural compost operations a non-starter.

Butin Almonte, Just Good Compost has found residents are willing to "pay to peel."

He's tapping into a growing desire among many to prevent their organic waste from festering for a lifetime in a landfill and the "pang of guilt" that comes with it.

"I feel like I am just a spark there was something that was here already," he said.

Affleck said the business model he hit on by accident could be duplicated in any small town where low population density makes an organic waste collection programunworkable.

The "accident" occurred while Affleckwas studying social psychiatry in Montreal, a discipline that focuses on the social determinants of mental health and recovery.

"One of the things that happens with people with mental illnesses is they become isolated their life gets smaller and smaller and smaller and they tend to get trapped in their basements," Affleck observed.

In Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood, Affleck encountered a quirky, free-spirited neighbourhood character who operated a small-scale compost service from the seat of his bicycle.

Afflecksaid he watched the man pedal through the neighbourhood, collecting household food scraps in a bucket andturning them into rich, dark compost in his backyard, then returning those dividends to his clients.

Nowa doctor of psychiatry, Afflecksaid that simple, pedal-powered business had given the man purpose and a role in the life of his community.

Today, Affleck has put his psychiatry career on hold. He and Scott bought a commercial van and hundreds of used, 13-litrefood-grade plastic buckets.

They have signed up hundreds of residential customers, but also business owners like Gwen Neelinwhose quaint Almonte sandwich shop now has suitable place for the egg shells, onion skins and bread crusts that are a necessary part of its waste stream.

"It's really just my own peace of mind and feeling like I'm not contributing to massive food waste," said Neelin.

Affleck and Scott employ almost two dozen workers with developmental disabilities to washand bleach buckets to a nearly new condition, making them ready for the next rotation.

AtLanark County Support Services, while Afflect cut cheques for Just Good Compost employees for their work, Trevor enthusiasticallyvolunteered for an interview and vouched for the bucket washing work he was engaged in.

"It's gross," he said, holding up an extended thumb and laughing.

The waste is composted at a facility in Perth.

Once a year, Just Good Compost clients are invited to an end-of-year barbecue where they meet like-minded neighbourswho can take home compost for their gardens.

The town will subsidize compost subscribers at the rate of $75, which brings an annual household organic waste pickup planfrom $275 down to $200.

Affleckand Scott believe the model will appealto many small towns that struggle tojustify their own organic waste program, as well as offering paid worktopeople who might otherwise have difficulty finding it.