Sonoma Compost

What Sonoma Compost does

Sonoma Compost Company is a private organic recycling and soil amendment producer founded in 1985 and headquartered in Nicasio, California, with its operating facility at the Central Landfill in Petaluma. The company converts yard trimmings, vegetative food discards, agricultural byproducts, and wood waste into a line of certified organic composts (Nicasio Blend, Hi-Test, Mallard Plus), biodynamic composts, mulches (Vineyard, Tree, Path, Ultra-Light), amended soils, custom blends, and a pyrolysis-derived Sonoma Biochar product. Underlying technology is rooted in windrow composting, an aerated static pile pilot using forced-air aeration, an elevated odor-control misting system, and on-site pyrolysis for biochar production, with supporting infrastructure including an 18-acre site, a 3+ acre expansion, settling ponds, and a cement-treated working surface. Documented throughput has reached 250+ tons per day, with cumulative diversion of approximately 1.6 million tons of organic material from landfills since the program began in 1993.

The business model combines per-unit product sales (with publicly posted pricing, volume discounts, custom blending at $5 per cubic yard, and delivery via local truckers) with managed-services revenue from operating the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency's Regional Organic Recycling Program, plus ancillary municipal consulting and educational services. Customers span agricultural farmers and grape growers, landscape architects and contractors, residential backyard gardeners, government and public agencies, and educational institutions across Sonoma, Napa, and Marin Counties. As of the most recent data, retail and drop-off operations are closed following lawsuits from neighbors, all organics are being shipped out of county at roughly $2 million per year in ratepayer-borne costs, and a new in-county facility is reported to be approximately three years away, with Renewable Sonoma having proposed to continue operations alongside an anaerobic digestion plant producing over 1 MW of green energy.

Name

Sonoma Compost

Legal name

Sonoma Compost Co.

Website

https://sonomacompost.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sonoma Compost is a private, certified-organic compost, mulch, and biochar producer founded in 1985, serving agricultural, landscaping, government, and residential customers across Sonoma, Napa, and Marin Counties from an 18-acre Petaluma facility that is currently closed pending a new site.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Compost and Soil Amendments

NAICS

Compost Manufacturing (325315), Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Waste Collection (56211), Waste Treatment and Disposal (5622)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200)

akta.pro primary industry

Compost & Soil Amendment Product Manufacturing/Blending (Value-Added Organics) (BPALAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organics Collection & Processing (Composting/Anaerobic Digestion) (IMAIAFAF), Organics & Composting Programs (Food Waste, Green Waste) (BPABALAC), Compost & Compost Blends (AFABADAE), Organic & Bio-based Fertilizers (Manure/Compost/Biochar) (IMAEAEAF), Organics Contamination Auditing, Education & Compliance Services (BPALAEAJ)

Keywords

• Organic compost production
• Mulch products
• Organic recycling services
• Biochar soil amendment
• Municipal composting programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Nicasio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Compost and Mulch Product Sales: Sales of various compost products (Nicasio Blend, Hi-Test Compost, Mallard Plus, Amended Soil) and mulch products (Vineyard Mulch, Path Mulch, Tree Mulch, Ultra-Light Mulch, Deck Mix) to agricultural, landscaping, and residential customers.
2. Biochar Product Sales: Sales of Sonoma Biochar, a premium soil amendment product sold in bags (1 cubic foot at $17.50) and bulk cubic yards ($240.00).
3. Organic Recycling Processing Fees: Sonoma Compost operates the Organic Recycling Program on behalf of Sonoma County Waste Management Agency, accepting yard trimmings, vegetative food discards, and agricultural byproducts for processing into compost and mulches.
4. Municipal Consulting Services: Sonoma Compost provides consulting services to governmental agencies and private companies on organic recycling program development, implementation, regulatory interpretation, and program evaluation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sonoma Compost produces certified organic compost, mulches, and specialty soil amendments (including biochar and biodynamic composts) from recycled yard trimmings, agricultural byproducts, and wood waste. The company operates a regional organic recycling program for the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency, processes food scraps, and provides municipal consulting on organics recycling program development.

Product overview

Sonoma Compost is a physical products company offering a diverse line of organic compost and mulch products for agricultural, landscaping, and residential use. The core product portfolio includes multiple compost varieties (Nicasio Blend, Hi-Test Compost, Mallard Plus, Biodynamic Composts) and mulch types (Vineyard Mulch, Tree Mulch, Path Mulch, Ultra-Light Mulch), along with Amended Soil and Deck Mix. The company also offers specialty products like Sonoma Biochar and custom compost blending services. Products are derived from recycled yard trimmings, agricultural byproducts, and wood materials diverted from landfills. The company operates organic recycling programs and provides related services including delivery, municipal consulting, and school garden support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sonoma Biochar: A biochar product created when high-carbon materials are gasified under low oxygen conditions (pyrolysis). Improves soil water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, and microbial populations while sequestering carbon for thousands of years. Priced at $17.50 per cubic foot bag or $240.00 per cubic yard bulk.

Products and services

• Nicasio Blend Compost Dark, rich, premium quality compost made from recycled yard trimmings, dairy manure and horse manure. Recommended for trees, shrubs, grape vines, and natives; screened to approximately less than 1/2 inch.
• Hi-Test Compost High-nitrogen compost great for new gardens and landscapes, especially where soils have been neglected or overworked. Provides nitrogen for vibrant plant start and improves soil structure.
• Mallard Plus Compost Compost for new gardens and landscapes, particularly in raised beds and heavy clay soils. Supports vegetables, flowers, and heavy feeders.
• Vineyard Mulch Affordable organic alternative to bark products, composted at over 131°F to be virtually free of weed seeds and pathogens. Suppresses weeds, conserves moisture, moderates soil temperatures, and controls erosion. Reduces soil loss by up to 95% on steep hillside vineyards.
• Tree Mulch Mulch derived from tree stumps and logs, a hybrid between Vineyard Mulch and Path Mulch. Provides background color and texture while suppressing weeds, conserving moisture, and controlling erosion.
• Path Mulch Durable walk-on mulch derived from wood scraps including dimensional lumber, plywood, and pallets. Suppresses weeds, conserves moisture, moderates soil temperatures, and controls erosion.
• Ultra-Light Mulch
• Feather-Lite Amended Soil
• Deck Mix
• Sonoma Biochar
• Sonoma Biodynamic Compost
• Biodynamic Hi-Test Compost
• Food Scrap Collection Program
• Municipal Consulting Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced soil loss by 78% to 98% in mulched vine rows versus control rows in vineyard erosion study
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Sonoma and Sonoma Garbage CollectorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Collaboration launched a food scraps collection program from commercial kitchens in the City of Sonoma in spring 2011. Sonoma Compost is working to establish similar programs throughout the County.
• Renewable SonomacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenewable Sonoma has taken over operations and is continuing the tradition of Sonoma Compost by providing diverse products. They are adding a renewable energy component through anaerobic digestion to produce green energy, with the remaining organics composted into high-quality soil amendment. They have a proposal with the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency to pursue this agreement.
• Josephine Porter Institute of Applied BiodynamicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssisted in developing Sonoma Compost's Biodynamic Composts using their expertise in biodynamic agriculture.
• Biodynamic Association of Northern CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Biodynamic Compost development using Demeter Association's Commercial Composting Standard as a guideline.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in the Composted Mulch for Erosion Control in Hillside Vineyards project, contributing expertise in soil conservation and erosion control.
• UC Cooperative Extensions of Napa and Sonoma CountiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch participant in vineyard mulch erosion control study, providing agricultural research expertise.
• Napa County and Sotoyome Resource Conservation DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch participants in vineyard erosion control project, contributing conservation district expertise.
• USDA Agricultural Research ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal research partner in the vineyard mulch erosion control study.
• Sudden Oak Death Mortality Task ForceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperated with researchers at UC Berkeley in a research project to determine if Phytophthora Ramorum (Sudden Oak Death pathogen) could survive composting temperatures. Results confirmed the pathogen does not survive in properly composted materials.
• Sonoma County Waste Management AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency on behalf of whom Sonoma Compost operates the Organic Recycling Program. Includes representatives from the County of Sonoma and its cities, serving over 485,000 residents.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GreenWaste Recovery: GreenWaste Recovery is a San Jose-based organics recycler operating one of California's largest composting facilities, processing green and food waste into compost and mulch. Directly comparable to Sonoma Compost in feedstock (municipal organics), product mix, and California municipal-contract model.
• CR&R Environmental Services: CR&R is a Southern California hauler and organics recycler operating compost facilities that process source-separated food and yard waste. Closely comparable to Sonoma Compost in feedstock, end-product compost, and integration with municipal collection programs.
• McGill Environmental Systems: McGill Environmental Systems produces compost and soil blends from biosolids and organic feedstocks, including bagged and bulk products. Comparable to Sonoma Compost in compost manufacturing, product line, and focus on agricultural/landscaping end markets.
• Cedar Grove Composting: Cedar Grove operates large-scale commercial composting in Washington State, processing municipal green and food waste into compost and soil blends. Directly comparable to Sonoma Compost in feedstock sources, end products (compost, mulches, soil blends), and municipal contract model.
• Atlas Organics: Atlas Organics operates commercial composting facilities that convert municipal and commercial organics into compost products, often under municipal contracts. Comparable to Sonoma Compost in feedstock, end-product compost, and municipal partnership model.

Broad incumbents

• Recology: Recology is a major West Coast integrated waste and organics recycler operating large composting programs in the Bay Area and beyond. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same municipal organics-recycling space, with a much wider geography and portfolio.
• Waste Management Inc. Waste Management is the largest North American waste services company, with an Organics Services business unit operating compost facilities that process source-separated organics. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping municipal compost and organics recycling offerings.
• Republic Services: Republic Services is a national waste and recycling company with significant organics/composting operations through its Recycle America and subsidiary programs. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping municipal organics contracts and compost products.

Emerging players

• Synagro Technologies: Synagro is a major North American biosolids and organics recycling company that produces compost and soil products from municipal and industrial feedstocks. Comparable as an emerging player in the organics-to-soil-amendment space, with overlap on municipal contract structures.
• Veteran Compost: Veteran Compost is a Mid-Atlantic compost and soil-blend producer serving residential and commercial customers. Comparable in product mix (compost, soil blends, mulches) and direct-to-consumer/local distribution model, though at a different scale and geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100066507970779
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sonoma-compost-co

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sonoma Compost