Veteran Compost
Veteran-owned composting company in Aberdeen, Maryland, producing bagged and bulk compost and soil products while providing residential and commercial food scrap collection, special-event composting, and consulting services across Maryland, DC, Virginia, and adjacent states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersAberdeen, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Veteran Compost does
Veteran Compost is a veteran-owned composting company founded in 2010 by Justen Garrity in Aberdeen, Maryland, operating a 30-acre leased farm and additional permitted sites in Alexandria, Virginia. The company produces bagged and bulk compost and soil amendment products — including Organic Crab Compost, All-Natural Compost, Worm Castings, Raised Bed Mix, Potting Mix, Super Soil, Topsoil, Bio-Charge, and Organic Seed Starter — alongside a portfolio of services: residential food scrap collection in the DC Metro Area, commercial collection in the Baltimore/Annapolis Metro Area, special-event composting for marathons, festivals, and weddings, food scrap drop-off, product de-packaging and destruction, and compost consulting. Its core technology combines aerated static pile composting with vermicomposting, mixing food scraps with wood chips sourced from local tree companies; quality control is enforced through regular in-house testing of pile temperature (held above 140°F for 72+ hours for pathogen kill), pH, and electrical conductivity, plus external lab testing for full nutrient analysis and heavy metals.
The company's revenue model spans multiple streams: one-time product sales (unit-priced bagged and bulk SKUs ranging from $3.50 to $29 for bagged items and $25–$49 per cubic yard for bulk), recurring subscription collection fees for residential and commercial routes, transaction-based special-event services, and professional services fees for consulting. Distribution is hybrid — direct farm pickup at Aberdeen, regional delivery across MD/DC/VA/Southern PA/DE, CSA-style community pickup points, and retail placement through MOMs Organic Market, Eddie's of Roland Park, Fritz Farm & Nursery, Ginkgo Gardens, A.A. Co Farm Lawn and Garden Center, and Token Rhyme Gardening. Customer segments include residential households, commercial and institutional accounts (named customers include Wegmans, Aramark, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Courtyard by Marriott, and Turf Valley Resort), schools, event organizers, certified-organic farmers, and gardeners.
Veteran Compost positions itself on a "Made By Hand, Backed By Science" proposition, combining a veteran-employment mission with NOP-compliant organic products, a zero-landfill collection-to-composting loop, and continuous quality testing. The only disclosed external capital event is a $350,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Agriculture awarded in September 2016 to build a compost site and training program; the company remains private with no disclosed equity funding events.
Veteran Compost firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Veteran Compost
- Legal name
- Veteran Compost
- Website
- https://veterancompost.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Veteran-owned composting company in Aberdeen, Maryland, producing bagged and bulk compost and soil products while providing residential and commercial food scrap collection, special-event composting, and consulting services across Maryland, DC, Virginia, and adjacent states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Veteran Compost industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Organic Compost and Soil Products
- NAICS
- Compost Manufacturing (325315), Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Composting Facility Operations (Windrow, ASP, In-Vessel) (BPALAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Compost & Soil Amendment Product Manufacturing/Blending (Value-Added Organics) (BPALAEAH), Compost Product Distribution, Retail & Landscape Supply (Bulk/Bagged) (BPALAEAI), Organics & Composting Programs (Food Waste, Green Waste) (BPABALAC), Compost & Vermicompost (AFABAKAC)
Keywords
Where Veteran Compost is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aberdeen
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Veteran Compost business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel
Revenue model
- Compost and Soil Product Sales: Sale of finished compost, soil amendments, and growing media products in bagged and bulk quantities. Products include Organic Crab Compost, All-Natural Compost, Worm Castings, Raised Bed Mix, Potting Mix, Topsoil, SuperSoil, Biochar, and Organic Seed Starter.
- Residential Food Scrap Collection: Weekly pickup service for residential customers in DC Metro Area providing 7 or 14 gallon bins. Service includes bin exchange for clean bins.
- Commercial Food Scrap Collection: Collection service for commercial customers in Baltimore/Annapolis Metro Area using 32/64 gallon rollout carts or 20/30 yard dumpsters. Material collection schedules and pricing tailored to specific needs.
- Special Event Composting: Food scrap composting services for events from small weddings (50 guests) to large festivals. Three service levels: Basic (bag collection), Intermediate (bin drop-off/pickup), and Full Service (staff monitoring throughout event).
- Product Depackaging/Destruction: Environmentally responsible disposal of packaged food and beverage products for manufacturers. Pricing based on type, quantity, and packaging. Certificates of destruction provided.
- Compost Consulting: Advisory services for starting collection businesses, opening compost facilities, or adding food scrap collection to food service operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Organic Crab Compost - bagged and bulk |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | All-Natural Compost - bagged and bulk |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Organic Worm Castings |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bio-Charge (biochar blend) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bio-Organics Mycorrhizal Landscape Inoculant |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coarse Vermiculite |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Raised Bed Mix / Square Foot Gardening Mix |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Organic Seed Starter |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Topsoil |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Super Soil |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Arbor Chips |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels11 records
Marketing channels10 records
Veteran Compost product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Veteran Compost produces and sells bagged and bulk organic compost and soil amendment products (Organic Crab Compost, All-Natural Compost, Worm Castings, Raised Bed Mix, Potting Mix, Super Soil, Bio-Charge, Bio-Organics Inoculant, Organic Seed Starter, Topsoil, Coarse Vermiculite, Arbor Chips) and provides food scrap collection services for residential and commercial customers across Maryland, DC, Virginia, Southern Pennsylvania and Delaware. Operations are anchored at a 30-acre farm in Aberdeen, MD using aerated static pile composting, vermicomposting, and a designated NOP-compliant organic pile with full lab quality control.
Product overview
Veteran Compost is a veteran-owned composting company offering a portfolio of organic soil products and food scrap collection services across Maryland, DC, and Virginia. The product line centers on compost and soil amendments including All-Natural Compost, Organic Crab Compost, Organic Worm Castings, Super Soil, Topsoil, Raised Bed Mix, Potting Mix, Organic Seed Starter, and specialty products like Bio-Charge and Bio-Organics Mycorrhizal Inoculant. The company also provides waste collection services including residential and commercial food scrap collection, special event composting, and drop-off facilities. All products are made by hand with quality control testing, and some products (Organic Crab Compost, Organic Seed Starter) carry National Organic Program compliance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Organic Crab Compost Organic compost approved for use on organic farms by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, made from Blue Crabs, coffee grounds, produce, and mulch fines; OMRI approval underway. Sold in 1 cubic foot bags ($10.50) and 1 cubic yard bulk ($49), screened to 1/2 inch.
- All-Natural Compost
Quantifiable outcome
- Compost piles exceed 140F for 72+ hours to kill pathogens and weed seeds
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Veteran Compost
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Veteran Compost technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Veteran Compost partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Maryland Presbyterian ChurchminorFirst church composting project partnership for food scrap collection and composting services
- Courtyard by MarriottminorHotel food scrap collection and composting partnership for sustainable hospitality operations
- Boatyard Bar and GrillminorRestaurant food waste composting partnership for environmental impact reduction
- Turf ValleyminorResort and golf course food waste composting from restaurant and food service operations
- Harford County Public Schools (HCPS)coreSchool food waste composting program with Emmorton Elementary composting over 500 lbs weekly. Educational partnership demonstrating composting to students.
- Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC)coreHealthcare food waste collection and composting partnership. GBMC was the second customer ever signed by Veteran Compost.
- AramarkcoreNational food service provider partnership for food waste collection and composting services
- WegmanscoreGrocery retail food scrap collection from multiple store locations
- Harry Browne's RestaurantminorFine dining restaurant recycling and composting featured on ABC News Channel 2
- Galway BayminorRestaurant food waste composting partnership
- MOMs Organic MarketcoreRetail distribution partnership with stores in Maryland and Virginia carrying bagged All-Natural Compost (seasonal)
- O2 CompostminorComposting technology and methodology partner
- Annapolis GreencoreEvent greening partnership for holistic composting, recycling, and waste management solutions in Greater Annapolis Area. Collected 10,000 lbs of pumpkins together.
- Global CommunitiesminorInternational development organization partnership for sustainable waste management initiatives
- Eddie’s of Roland ParkcoreRetail distribution with two Baltimore locations carrying bagged Crab Compost and Raised Bed Mix
- Fritz Farm & NurseryminorLocal nursery retailer in Joppatowne, MD carrying bagged Raised Bed Mix
- Ginkgo GardensminorDC-based garden center carrying bagged All-Natural Compost, Crab Compost, and Raised Bed Mix
- A.A. Co Farm Lawn and Garden CenterminorGarden center retailer in Severna Park, MD distributing Veteran Compost products
- Token Rhyme GardeningminorVirginia garden center carrying bagged All-Natural Compost and Crab Compost
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Veteran Compost competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Compost Crew: Compost Crew is a residential and commercial food scrap collection service operating in the DC Metro Area and other Mid-Atlantic markets. It is the most direct competitor to Veteran Compost, offering nearly identical subscription collection services, bin exchange model, and finished compost products to the same geographic customer base.
- Bootstrap Compost: Bootstrap Compost provides residential and commercial food scrap collection with finished compost product sales in the Philadelphia and surrounding Mid-Atlantic markets. Comparable subscription collection model, regional Mid-Atlantic positioning, and product portfolio overlap make it a closely aligned direct peer to Veteran Compost.
- Rust Belt Riders: Rust Belt Riders operates residential and commercial food scrap collection in Pittsburgh and Northeast Ohio with a similar subscription + clean bin exchange model. While geographically displaced, its business model, customer segments (residential + enterprise), and finished compost product line mirror Veteran Compost's operations closely.
- Black Earth Compost: Black Earth Compost provides residential food scrap collection and finished compost product sales in Massachusetts, with a comparable subscription model and product portfolio (compost, soil blends, mulches). Direct operational and product parallel to Veteran Compost, with regional separation.
- Worm Power: Worm Power is a commercial vermicomposting operation producing worm castings for agricultural and consumer markets from food waste feedstock. Directly comparable to Veteran Compost's vermicomposting capability and worm castings product line, with similar science-backed premium positioning and B2B customer base.
- EcoRich Compost: EcoRich (formerly Needham Compost) provides residential food scrap collection in the Greater Boston area with comparable subscription service model. Operationally parallel to Veteran Compost's residential collection offering with similar product portfolio extension into bagged compost and soil blends.
- Malibu Compost: Malibu Compost is a premium organic compost and soil amendment brand sold through retail garden centers and online, focused on OMRI-listed and certified organic products. Comparable premium organic positioning, soil amendment product portfolio, and specialty garden retail distribution to Veteran Compost's product business.
Broad incumbents
- Waste Management (WM): Waste Management is the largest North American waste services company with growing organics recycling and food scrap collection programs in major metros, leveraging existing route density and transfer infrastructure. Represents the primary competitive threat to Veteran Compost's commercial collection business from a well-capitalized incumbent.
- Republic Services: Republic Services is a major national waste hauler with expanding organics recycling services across its footprint, serving large commercial food waste generators through municipal and direct contracts. Comparable commercial collection customer profile to Veteran Compost's enterprise customer base (Aramark, Wegmans, GBMC).
Emerging players
- Tilth Soil: Tilth Soil is a regional premium soil blend manufacturer focused on organic and sustainably sourced growing media sold through garden centers and online channels. Comparable product portfolio overlap (premium blends, organic positioning) with Veteran Compost's value-added product business but without the collection services component.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Veteran Compost social profiles
Digital presenceVeteran Compost financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Veteran Compost leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Veteran Compost funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Veteran Compost M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Veteran Compost
What does Veteran Compost do?
Veteran Compost produces and sells bagged and bulk organic compost and soil amendment products (Organic Crab Compost, All-Natural Compost, Worm Castings, Raised Bed Mix, Potting Mix, Super Soil, Bio-Charge, Bio-Organics Inoculant, Organic Seed Starter, Topsoil, Coarse Vermiculite, Arbor Chips) and provides food scrap collection services for residential and commercial customers across Maryland, DC, Virginia, Southern Pennsylvania and Delaware. Operations are anchored at a 30-acre farm in Aberdeen, MD using aerated static pile composting, vermicomposting, and a designated NOP-compliant organic pile with full lab quality control.
Is Veteran Compost a public or private company?
Veteran Compost is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Veteran Compost founded?
Veteran Compost was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Veteran Compost based?
Veteran Compost is headquartered in Aberdeen, United States, in the North America region.
How does Veteran Compost make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Compost and Soil Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are residential Food Scrap Collection, commercial Food Scrap Collection, special Event Composting, product Depackaging/Destruction and compost Consulting.
Who are Veteran Compost's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Compost Crew, Bootstrap Compost, Rust Belt Riders, Black Earth Compost, Worm Power, EcoRich Compost and Malibu Compost. Broad incumbents are Waste Management (WM) and Republic Services. Tilth Soil is listed as an emerging player.
Does Veteran Compost have an API?
No public API is recorded for Veteran Compost.
What industry is Veteran Compost in?
Veteran Compost's product category is Organic Compost and Soil Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPALAEAB, Composting Facility Operations (Windrow, ASP, In-Vessel), with a secondary code of BPALAEAH, Compost & Soil Amendment Product Manufacturing/Blending (Value-Added Organics). Its NAICS code is 325315 and its SIC code is 4953.