LA Compost
LA Compost is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a decentralized network of 30+ community compost hubs and 14+ farmers' market drop-off sites across Los Angeles County, collecting and processing household food scraps within a 10-mile radius and redistributing finished compost to residents, schools, urban farms, and mission-aligned businesses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What LA Compost does
LA Compost is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2013 by Michael Martinez, operating a decentralized network of community compost hubs and farmers' market food scrap drop-off sites across Los Angeles County. The organization collects household organic material from residents, schools, and mission-aligned businesses, processes it within roughly 10 miles of drop-off through windrow, three-bin, and vermicomposting systems, and redistributes finished compost back to the community. Its infrastructure footprint comprises 30+ compost hubs co-located with urban farms, schools, churches, and parks, plus 14+ weekly farmers' market drop-off sites spanning neighborhoods from Burbank to Watts Willowbrook. The organization also runs education programs including hands-on workshops, the Magic Soil Bus mobile learning initiative (launching 2026), and the Earth Tones digital community art exhibit.
The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure: donations and monthly giving form the largest stream; CalRecycle grant funding (2022-2025 Community Composting for Green Spaces Program) underwrites multi-county hub expansion; corporate partnerships via Soil Squads team-building volunteering and sponsorships provide a B2B revenue line; finished compost is sold on a sliding scale ($5 tea bags, $20 burlap bags, $25-$60 bulk totes); and an affiliate referral arrangement with the Hungry Friend app routes a portion of restaurant meal spend to the organization. Customer segments are highly fragmented: individual LA County residents, schools and educational institutions, urban farms and community gardens, and a smaller base of corporate CSR partners. Geographic operations center on LA County, with CalRecycle-funded reach into Orange, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties via partner organizations.
The organization is led by Executive Director Ryan Jackson (former local government, 15+ years in LA/SF) and Founder Michael Martinez (Master Gardener, former elementary school teacher), supported by a board including a City of LA environmental leader, a former LA Food Policy Council policy director, and a financial consultant specializing in food systems. The leadership team includes specialized staff in soil microbiology (MS-level), environmental biology, atmospheric science, and urban agriculture. In 2025, the organization reported diverting nearly 1 million pounds of organics from landfill and holds the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency and 1% for the Planet designation.
LA Compost firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LA Compost
- Legal name
- LA Compost
- Website
- https://lacompost.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- LA Compost is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a decentralized network of 30+ community compost hubs and 14+ farmers' market drop-off sites across Los Angeles County, collecting and processing household food scraps within a 10-mile radius and redistributing finished compost to residents, schools, urban farms, and mission-aligned businesses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LA Compost industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Composting Services
- NAICS
- Compost Manufacturing (325315), Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (44424), Solid Waste Collection (562111), Landscaping Services (561730)
- SIC
- Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200), Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Organics & Composting Programs (Food Waste, Green Waste) (BPABALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Composting Facility Operations (Windrow, ASP, In-Vessel) (BPALAEAB), Organics Collection & Processing (Composting/Anaerobic Digestion) (IMAIAFAF), Compost & Compost Blends (AFABADAE), Compost Product Distribution, Retail & Landscape Supply (Bulk/Bagged) (BPALAEAI)
Keywords
Where LA Compost is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
LA Compost business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: LA Compost relies on generous community support through one-time and monthly donations to sustain community composting efforts year-round. They also accept Donor Advised Fund gifts and charity designations.
- Compost Sales: Compost sales in various sizes including compost tea bags ($5), burlap bag compost ($20 per 7.5 gallons), and bulk compost on sliding scale ($25-$60 per 27-gallon tote based on capacity to pay.
- Corporate Partnerships: Soil Squads corporate volunteering program and corporate sponsorships provide revenue through business partnerships and employee volunteer matching programs.
- App Partnership (Hungry Friend): Partnership with Hungry Friend app where participating LA restaurants donate a portion of meal costs to support LA Compost.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Compost Tea Bags - Suitable for making one 5-gallon batch of compost tea |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Burlap Bag Compost - 1 CF bag (roughly 7.5 gallons) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk Compost - 27-gallon tote (3.5 cubic feet), 10 tote maximum |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Community Composting Services |
| Subscription | Monthly | NELA Programs Assistant (Part-time) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
LA Compost product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LA Compost operates a decentralized network of community compost hubs and farmers' market drop-off sites across Los Angeles County, collecting household food scraps and processing them into finished compost within 10 miles of drop-off. The organization also runs compost distribution events, education workshops, and the upcoming Magic Soil Bus mobile learning initiative, while selling finished compost products on a sliding scale.
Product overview
LA Compost is a community-based nonprofit organization operating a decentralized composting infrastructure network across Los Angeles County. The organization's core offerings consist of three interconnected service lines: (1) Food scrap collection through Farmers Market Drop-Offs at over 14 weekly markets and Community Compost Hubs located in neighborhoods throughout LA; (2) Compost distribution through seasonal farmers market distributions, Compost Co-op memberships, and quarterly Community Compost Day LA events; and (3) Education programs including the How to Compost in LA workshops and the Magic Soil Bus mobile learning initiative launching in 2026. Additional offerings include volunteer programs with appreciation milestones, corporate Soil Squads team-building, and the Earth Tones digital community art exhibit. The organization also sells finished compost in multiple formats and operates an extensive network of partner-compost sites funded through CalRecycle grants.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Magic Soil Bus: A mobile learning initiative by LA Compost that brings composting and soil health education directly to youth of Los Angeles through a mobile classroom on wheels traveling to schools, community centers, and public events.
Products and services
- Farmers' Market Food Scrap Drop-Offs
- Community Compost Hubs
- Compost Distributions
- Community Compost Day LA
- Magic Soil Bus
- How to Compost in LA Workshop
- Compost Co-ops
- Soil Squads Corporate Volunteering
- Compost for Purchase
- Earth Tones Digital Exhibit
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 1 million lbs of organics diverted from landfill in 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use LA Compost
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
LA Compost technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
LA Compost partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Atwater Village Neighborhood CouncilcoreNeighborhood council partner hosting community compost hub and supporting local composting initiatives in the Atwater Village area.
- Audubon Center at Debs ParkcoreNature-based education center with composting operations. Mission to inspire people to experience, understand and care for the local natural world. Compost created from onsite café organics is used in edible gardens.
- Cottonwood Urban FarmcoreUrban farm located in Tujunga Wash basin using creative growing techniques. Hosts compost hub accepting community members with no volunteer hours required.
- City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and ParksflagshipMajor municipal partner providing green spaces for compost hubs across LA parks including Griffith Park and other recreational facilities.
- GrowGood Food UnitescoreLA-based nonprofit creating urban agricultural programs at 1.5-acre Bell farm. Hosts compost hub providing fresh produce to homeless communities.
- Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR)coreResearch organization providing innovative strategies for environmentally sound community development. LA Compost defines its programs according to ILSR's Hierarchy to Reduce Food Waste and Grow Community.
- LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN)coreCity agency partner supporting organics processing and composting infrastructure development across Los Angeles.
- Los Angeles Neighborhood Land TrustcoreOrganization addressing LA park inequities in communities of color. Partners to provide compost infrastructure and training to registered garden spaces.
- Los Angeles Community Garden CouncilcorePartners with 42 community gardens across LA County. Provides compost infrastructure and training to registered garden spaces through LA City Board of Public Works #FreetheFood Community Food Waste Challenge.
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles CountycoreMuseum hosts compost hub processing café organics onsite. Compost used in edible gardens and seedlings given away at composting workshops.
- Los Angeles Department of Water & PowercoreMunicipal utility partner supporting community composting initiatives and environmental sustainability programs.
- California Alliance for Community CompostingcoreStatewide coalition of community composting organizations working together to expand composting infrastructure.
- Climate Emergency Mobilized OfficecoreCity of LA office focused on climate action supporting community composting as part of environmental emergency response.
- Food Access LAcorePartner at Echo Park Farmers' Market supporting food scrap collection and community food access initiatives.
- Crop Swap LAminorFood waste reduction organization supporting composting and food sharing initiatives.
- Eco Urban GardensminorUrban agriculture organization providing space and support for community composting.
- Elysian Valley Neighborhood CouncilcoreNeighborhood council partner supporting community garden and composting at Elysian Valley Community Garden.
- Food EDcoreEducation organization partnering to provide San Gabriel Valley with composting opportunities through Monrovia Community Garden.
- The Rot SquadminorPartner organization at Echo Park Farmers' Market supporting food scrap collection.
- Hungry Friend AppminorRestaurant dining app where participating LA restaurants donate a portion of meal costs to support LA Compost.
- Growing RootsminorPartner managing The Growing Roots Garden compost hub under CalRecycle-funded program.
- Strength Based Community ChangeminorPartner managing multiple compost hubs including New Beginnings Garden, LA Adventist School, Heart of the Harbor Community Farm under CalRecycle program.
- Full Circle CompostminorPartner managing Topanga drop sites and other compost hubs under CalRecycle program.
- Sustainable ClaremontminorPartner managing school compost hubs at Condit Elementary and Sycamore Elementary under CalRecycle program.
- Integrative Development InitiativeminorPartner managing multiple compost hubs across Claremont area including Center Street Community Garden, Claremont Colleges, Fairplex Farm under CalRecycle program.
- CRECE (Orange County)minorOrange County partner managing Walnut and Daisy Micro-Farm and La Granjita compost hubs under CalRecycle program.
- The C.R.E.W. (Ventura County)minorVentura County partner managing multiple compost hubs including Cornucopia Community Gardens, Restore Community Garden, Ojai Community Demonstration Garden, and school sites under CalRecycle program.
- Explore Ecology (Santa Barbara County)minorSanta Barbara County partner managing 9 school compost hubs including Adams Elementary, Adelante Charter School, Franklin Elementary, and others under CalRecycle program.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
LA Compost competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Recology: San Francisco-headquartered waste and composting company operating organics processing and collection services across the Western US. Broad incumbent with overlapping organics infrastructure and composting operations in the same California regulatory environment.
- Waste Management: Largest North American waste services company with growing organics recycling and composting lines under SB 1383-driven demand. Broad incumbent competing for municipal organics contracts that otherwise might flow to community composters like LA Compost.
- Republic Services: Major US waste and recycling company with an expanding organics processing footprint, including composting facilities. Broad incumbent in the same regulatory and customer environment as LA Compost, though operating at vastly larger scale.
Direct peers
- Black Earth Compost: California-based commercial composting company serving the greater Los Angeles area with residential and commercial food scrap collection. Most direct commercial competitor in LA County, though structured as a for-profit rather than nonprofit.
- Bootstrap Compost: Portland, Oregon-based community composter operating decentralized collection and composting services for households and businesses. Directly comparable as a community-led composting organization with residential drop-off and subscription models, though smaller in geographic scope.
- CompostNow: Subscription-based residential and commercial food scrap collection service operating across multiple US states. Directly comparable as a decentralized organics collection model, but uses centralized composting rather than community hubs.
- Compost Crusader: New York City-based community composting service offering residential food scrap collection and finished compost returns. Comparable as a community-scale composter serving an urban market, though operating in a different geography.
- Eco-Cycle: Colorado-based nonprofit zero-waste organization with community composting, recycling, and education programs. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit operating community-scale composting and education in a single US region.
Others
- California Alliance for Community Composting: Statewide coalition of community composting organizations, of which LA Compost is a member. Adjacent ecosystem participant that provides collective advocacy, training, and funding access for community composters across California.
- Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR): National research and advocacy organization that defines the Hierarchy to Reduce Food Waste and Grow Community framework used by LA Compost. Adjacent ecosystem participant that shapes policy and best practices for community composting.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LA Compost social profiles
Digital presenceLA Compost compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
LA Compost financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LA Compost leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
LA Compost funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LA 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 LA Compost
What does LA Compost do?
LA Compost operates a decentralized network of community compost hubs and farmers' market drop-off sites across Los Angeles County, collecting household food scraps and processing them into finished compost within 10 miles of drop-off. The organization also runs compost distribution events, education workshops, and the upcoming Magic Soil Bus mobile learning initiative, while selling finished compost products on a sliding scale.
Is LA Compost a public or private company?
LA Compost is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LA Compost founded?
LA Compost was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is LA Compost based?
LA Compost is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does LA Compost make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are compost Sales, corporate Partnerships and app Partnership (Hungry Friend).
Who are LA Compost's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Recology, Waste Management and Republic Services. Direct peers are Black Earth Compost, Bootstrap Compost, CompostNow, Compost Crusader and Eco-Cycle. Others are California Alliance for Community Composting and Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR).
Does LA Compost have an API?
No public API is recorded for LA Compost.
What industry is LA Compost in?
LA Compost's product category is Community Composting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPABALAC, Organics & Composting Programs (Food Waste, Green Waste), with a secondary code of BPALAEAB, Composting Facility Operations (Windrow, ASP, In-Vessel). Its NAICS code is 325315 and its SIC code is 5200.