Jennifer Mastalerz of Philly Compost presented this at ILSR's Cultivating Community Composting workshop.

1. CREATIVE BUSINESS
Sustaining a business with the help of the community, as a work at home parent and through
collaboration with other like minded businesses.

2. Diverse Revenue Streams
• Member Based drop-off
program – 87 members
• WeeklyVolume Processed
onsite: +/- 120 gallons
• Approximate 2016 Revenue:
$4,200
• Organics Hauling – 17
current commercial
customers
• WeeklyVolume
Collected and processed
offsite: +/-650 gallons
• Approximate 2016
Revenue: $22,350
• Event Composting – mostly
weddings
• Subcontracting to another
Compost company for pedal
collections (5 months in
2016)
• Approximate 2016 Revenue:
$5,000
• Received grant for $8,000 in
summer of 2016

3. The Numbers
34%
66%
87 CURRENT MEMBERS
Volunteer Members Non-Volunteer
Working Membership = $25 per year
Non working Membership = $50 per year

4. The Numbers
86%
14%
2016 REVENUE: $4,200
Membership Dues Product Sales
Product: reused grain bags from local brewery. 1cubic foot (+/-7.5 gallons). $10 each

5. Diverse Revenue Streams
• Member Based drop-off
program
• WeeklyVolume Processed
onsite: +/- 120 gallons
• Approximate 2016 Revenue:
$4,200
• Organics Hauling – 17
current commercial
customers
• WeeklyVolume
Collected and processed
offsite: +/-675 gallons
• Approximate 2016
Revenue: $22,350
• Event Composting – mostly
weddings
• Subcontracting to another
Compost company for pedal
collections (5 months in
2016)
• Approximate 2016 Revenue:
$5,000
• Received grant for $8,000 in
summer of 2016

6. CustomerType Pickups Per
Week
Bins Per Pick-up ApproxWeeklyVolume
(gallons
Monthly Collection
Fee
Daycare 1 1 10 $25
Gastro Pub 1 2 3 50 $150
Coffee Shop 1 1 4 35 Barter - $75 credit
Lunch Restaurant 1 1 4 40 $100
Coffee Shop 2 1 4 40 $125
Gastro Pub 2 2 8 130 $300
Fine Dining 1 4 20 $200
Coffee Shop 3 2 6 120 $200
Ice Cream Shop 1 1 2 15 $40
Retirement Community 1 2 15 $75
Gastro Pub 3 1 4 30 $120
Pizza Shop 1 2 15 $40
Lunch Restaurant 2 2 4 65 $135
Coffee Shop 4 1 4 35 $120
Ice Cream Shop 2 1 4 30 $60
Catering Business Drop Off 1 or 2 15 Barter - $40 credit
Community Kitchen 1 1 10 $60

7. Map and Route Scheduling
• Collection days –Tuesday and Saturday mornings
• Most restaurants want an early week collection day to remove
weekend material
• Saturdays allow for employee who has full time job and wants
some extra weekend work
• Allow for you to be seen by a different crowd than during the
week

8. Expenses
• Rent & Utilities (Water & Electric)
• Marketing
• Salary for Employee doing collections
• Tricycle Maintenance and Upkeep
• Third party hauling
• Bin Liners
• EarthTub Maintenance
and Upkeep
• Site Improvements – new
curing bins, sifters, covered
spaces

9. ApproximateAnnual Expenses
Employee Collection Salary - $15/hr 10hrs/week:
Rent/Utilities :
Third Party Hauling:
Bin Liners
Equipment maintenance
Marketing
$ 7,800
$ 3,050
$ 3,400
$ 1,000
$ 1,500
$ 500
$17,250

10. Diverse Revenue Streams
• Member Based drop-off
program
• WeeklyVolume Processed
onsite: +/- 120 gallons
• Approximate 2016 Revenue:
$4,200
• Organics Hauling – 17
current commercial
customers
• WeeklyVolume
Collected and processed
offsite: +/-675 gallons
• Approximate 2016
Revenue: $22,350
• Event Composting – mostly
weddings
• Subcontracting to another
Compost company for pedal
collections (5 months in
2016)
• Approximate 2016 Revenue:
$5,000
• Received grant for $8,000 in
summer of 2016

11. Future Plans
• Creating 501c3 and then potentially a
member owned cooperative
• Remove EarthTubs and compost in 3 bin
systems now that I feel more confident
about composting and have a good
volunteer base
• MORE EDUCATION! Partnering with local
school or community garden for more secure
siting & education opportunities
• Partnering with Bennett
Compost to allow for
more security, growth and
time to focus on
• Local xmas tree collection for recycling
• Share tricycle (and trailer if wanted)
with other entrepreneurs as part of a
pedal collective
• Set up something in Philadelphia
similar to the Soil Rebuilders
ComposterTraining program in DC
• Pet waste composting (anyone doing
this?)

12. Challenges & Words ofWisdom
• Figure out who you work best with
• Establish partnerships if possible that
help with volunteers or employees
(schools, neighborhood groups,
veterans groups, etc)
• Make friends and be honest with
neighbors
• The majority of people who reach out
about joining the Compost Coop are
women and 95% of my volunteers are
women. Keep this in mind when doing
marketing.
• Staffing
• Site Issues – theft,
neighborhood development
• Insurance!
Zip ties are
amazingly
versatile and
helpful!
Toilet bowl brushes are great
for cleaning out compost bins