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The question I get asked the most often is "why composting?" So, I figure I should tackle it in my first blog post.
After 5 years as a Combat Engineer Officer in the Army, I thought it was time for a change. So, I switched to the National Guard and moved home to start a civilian career. But, it was April 2009 - right in the middle of the economic downturn - and jobs were non-existent. Six months after being awarded a Bronze Star in Iraq, I found myself on unemployment. How embarrassing,
I could have either sat at home and felt sorry for myself or create a better future. So, I started to look around for a business opportunity. I always liked the sense of purpose that came with my Army positions, so I knew that any business I started would also have to have a purpose beyond simple profit generation. I explored a number of different "green" options like solar power, electronics recycling, and carbon credit trading - but none seemed like a fit.
Then one day I saw a pie chart showing the types of waste thrown away in the United States. Two thirds of the material discarded everyday could be composted instead of going to a landfill. As I researched composting I quickly realized that there were only a handful of compost facilities in the United States. I had found an industry with an amazing amount of potential and few competitors. Better yet, the industry was young and had few barriers to entry. A motivated person could learn the trade and get started with a small amount of capital. I was hooked.
