Local Compost is the Best Compost— Join Us

"Don't let perfection be the enemy of the good." – Voltaire

Since 2014, GoZERO has focused on 'doing what we can with what we have.' In Ohio, regarding food waste composting, this has meant figuring out how to help more and more locations source-separate their compostable scrap for composting—even if that means hauling the collected material up to four hours to a composter who will accept it.

For a long time, this has been a step forward. Given the generally accepted greenhouse gas impacts of composting relative to truck emissions, GoZERO has achieved an impressive 32% reduction in climate impact compared to backyard composting. It can be calculated that for every 7 lbs of food waste composted, a typical day's worth of driving emissions is removed from the atmosphere. When composting with GoZERO, it typically takes 22 lbs of food waste to compost to achieve the same impact.

We're not satisfied with 32%, but given GoZERO serves locations where backyard composting isn't an option and landfilling is typically the only other alternative, as we work to do better, we let perfection be an inspiration, not the enemy.

"The Times They Are A-Changin'" – Bob Dylan

We're just getting started. We take great pride in honing our craft, inventing new solutions, and working to be the best at executing on serving our customers. The goal has always been to build a network not only of customer locations and operational outposts but also of communities of haulers, composters, and educators whose passion is to get food waste out of the landfill.

For years, the goal has been to develop a standardized model for catalyzing and supporting this idea, where local people can invest in local communities so that the best of 'local heart and regional strength' can come forward through coordinated investment, decision-making, and ownership. The years of experimentation and development have produced a few key principles and an initial road map for how to begin the journey of partnering more locally to realize this vision.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." – Lao Tzu

We're asking if you or anyone you know is interested in learning more about becoming a hauler, composter, and/or educator in partnership with GoZERO—let's talk!

Our mission is to improve our environment, strengthen our communities, and change the way we think about food, soil, and health. With an eye toward our vision of a world where food waste composting works for everyone. If these resonate with you, consider the following:

Hauler – Transportation Services

If you own a reliable vehicle that can tow even a small trailer, have 4 or more available hours per week, and are looking for an additional stream of income, you could become a light-, medium-, or heavy-duty food waste-to-composting hauler.

Neighborhood haulers are the front line of GoZERO's advocacy in the communities it serves. The work is routine, in season and out, rain or shine, and what might start as a little more local and more impact-driven than DoorDash or Lyft could turn into a lifelong career. Especially if you have a pickup and landscape trailer, neighborhood hauls keep climate impact and costs low while creating reliable take-home revenue. Contact us today to learn more about hauling opportunities.

Composter – Farm Facility Hosting & Operations

If you have as little as 0.5 acres of space and are interested in helping to make responsible food waste composting a reality in your community, you could become a host to a small, medium, or large-scale food waste composting or aggregation yard.

Community-friendly composters are the local backbone of food waste composting. Operations can be passive, seasonal, or routine and are ideal for otherwise underutilized agricultural or industrial space. Having a lasting and objective impact as a landlord and/or compost farmer has never been easier.

Especially if you have 15 acres or more of truck-accessible space without significant residential neighborhood or public waterway pressures, generating additional monthly revenue with your property without a heavy upfront investment or long-term development commitments, all while being the change-maker for your community, it probably sounds too good to be true. However, if you'd like to learn more about partnering on a composting or aggregation yard, contact us today.

Educator – Compost Coaching

If you love sharing new ideas with people —maybe public speaking —you could become a compost coach, supporting community members with technical support for food waste composting, presentations, and subject-matter expertise.

Passionate communicators are the first to arrive, last to leave, the special forces' secret weapon of food waste composting. It's exhilarating work and can be one-on-one, small group, or auditorium-sized engagements. However, no matter the size or setting, once people are shown how impactful and easy food waste composting can be, they can never unsee it and are changed forever.

Especially if you are generally outgoing, have 2 or more days available per week, and are comfortable introducing and unpacking the good news of composting in person or remotely. GoZERO can help you generate income while enriching your local community by sharing the whys and hows of food waste composting.  Get in touch today to learn more.

"The Best Is Yet to Come" – Frank Sinatra

The quest to get food waste out of landfills and into the land has been and is an exhilarating and humbling journey. Having started by letting the ideal be an inspiration, not the enemy, GoZERO is excited to be adding a new layer to its food waste composting mission, accelerating improvements in service and impact in new and unique ways by seeking out and empowering local individuals and communities who are interested in joining in the work as haulers, composters, and educators. Local compost is the best compost, and now with 'local heart and regional strength,' you can be a part of the story. Reach out today, or at least share this with a friend.