Getting Started With GoZERO

Starting a composting program with GoZERO is simple. Whether you’re a business, school, restaurant, or event organizer, our goal is to make food waste diversion easy and reliable. From estimating the right number of carts to launching your composting program, GoZERO supports you through each step of the process.

 

How GoZERO Service Works

Composting with GoZERO begins with understanding how the program works.

We like to say: “If you can get it into our containers, we can take it from there.”

Your team manages the on-site process of saving and separating food scrap, and GoZERO handles the rest — collection, transport, and composting.

We provide tips and guidance to help you build a successful composting program, but the internal process for separating compostables is managed by your organization.

Pricing

GoZERO offers standardized pricing for routine compost collection using 64-gallon carts.

Service includes:

  • Cart emptying

  • Cart washing (weather permitting)

  • Compostable liners

  • Service data tracking

  • Feedback on contamination if needed

  • Assurance that collected materials are composted

Typical pricing:

  • Base service visit: $90

  • Carts 1–5: $20 per cart

  • Carts 6+: $15 per cart


 

Account Set Up and Service Needs Estimation

 
 

Choosing the Right Service Frequency

Cart Count Estimation

 

Weekly Service

Best for most businesses and food service locations.

• Moderate number of carts on site
• Balanced cost and convenience
• Very low insect risk in warm weather
• Reliable option for steady food waste generation

Twice Weekly Service

Best for high-volume kitchens or sensitive environments.

• Fewer carts needed on site
• Most frequent pickups
• Lowest chance of insects or odor
• Higher cost due to more service visits

Every Other Week Service

Best for locations with space and moderate waste.

• Most cost-efficient option
• Requires more carts on site
• Works well for lower-volume locations
• Slightly higher insect risk in warm weather

Every location produces a different amount of food scrap. To help estimate the right service level, GoZERO uses several rules of thumb.

• 1 compost cart per 2.5 cubic yards of trash generated
• 1 cart per 2,000 meals served
• 1 cart per 700 meals when compostable serviceware is used
• 1 cart per 100 people for paper towel composting in offices or schools

These estimates help determine:

  • Number of carts needed

  • Service frequency (weekly, twice weekly, or bi-weekly)

Our team will review these estimates and prepare a service proposal for approval.

Once a proposal is approved and payment received, we can finalize your service.

You can expect you containers to be delivered within 7–14 days

After delivery, your team can begin saving their scrap!

 
 

Not Sure How Many Carts You Need — Start With Our Usage Based Pilot Program!

Here at GoZERO, we want to make sure you have the perfect number of carts AND the best service possible. We do our best to place the correct number of carts at each location, but sometimes we are a bit off. This is why we offer the Usage-Based Pilot Program.

Our Usage-Based Pilot Program begins with a pilot invoice. The invoice will cover cart delivery and any account setup fees. This must be paid before cart delivery to ensure all billing and payment work seamlessly.

During the first four weeks, we monitor cart usage. If there are unused carts, you will receive a credit on your first routine invoice.  For each unused cart, a $10 credit will be applied to our first routine invoice (i.e., if 3 carts were unused during the first four weeks, a $30 credit would be applied to your first routine invoice). Sometimes, there is overage, and more carts are needed. If we see this is the case, we will check in and discuss with you the next steps. 

Sometimes the Usage-Based Pilot Program lasts longer than 4 weeks.  We do our best to review your data to ensure you have all the carts you need. The process may take 8-12 weeks, depending on your location. If we find you have too many carts, we will remove the carts at no cost to you.  

If service is discontinued before the first four weeks of service are complete, the payment on the pilot invoice will not be refunded.

 

Event Composting

Only need occasional service? GoZERO provides composting services for festivals, conferences, and other events.

 

Event Service Terms

Events are invoiced upfront for the full service cost, which includes:

  • Cart delivery

  • Cart service

  • Cart removal

Payment must be received before carts are delivered unless other arrangements are made.

Additional charges may apply for:

  • Weekend service

  • Return trips if carts are not ready for pickup

  • Significant contamination in compost carts

Helping Event Guests Compost

Education is often the most important part of successful event composting.

We recommend:

  • Training volunteers or staff beforehand

  • Posting clear compost signage at bins

  • Assigning a small “green team” to guide guests

GoZERO can also provide guidance and educational resources to help your event run smoothly.

 

Does GoZERO offer de-packaging services?

Yes, GoZERO offers depackaging services. However, depackaging is significantly more complex than simply collecting and composting source-separated food waste. We offer the service on a more limited basis, not typically part of routine service routes.

Also, depackaging is commonly confused with sorting. If there's a circumstance where a party wants to throw all their food and packaging waste into a heavily commingled receptacle and have it composted, that usually requires a sorting service, which GoZERO typically isn't able to offer.

However, suppose the material is relatively homogeneous and/or easily handled in a unitized way (such as what might be produced by a packaging line, warehouse, or large freezer/refrigerator when product falls out of the required saleable specification). In that case, depackaging may be a viable option.

Developing regular packaged food waste service routes is of interest to GoZERO. However, many packaged food waste needs are better served by a more traditional, dedicated routine or an episodic (event-based) container placement and servicing setup.

If you think you may have a routine or episodic food waste-to-composting disposal need that could require depackaging, get in touch with us at (844) 467-0874 or via our contact page.

Knowing the expected locations, volumes, weights, makeup/contents, and sharing pictures of the actual material you'd like depackaged and composted will be the first step in determining whether depackaging is a good fit. Depackaging typically starts at $100/ton, plus service and transportation costs.

 

Know a Place That Should Compost?

Contact us

GoZERO is a small nonprofit focused on building reliable composting infrastructure for our communities.

We grow primarily through community referrals rather than traditional sales outreach.

If you know a school, business, restaurant, or organization that could benefit from composting, we encourage you to share your experience and invite them to reach out.