Composting Association of Vermont

What Composting Association of Vermont does

The Composting Association of Vermont (CAV) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 and headquartered in Hinesburg, Vermont, that promotes composting and organics recycling through education, policy advocacy, and coalition building. CAV operates a portfolio of programs including the annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS, now in its 20th year), a monthly Compost Conversations webinar series, the Soil Builders Education in Action program serving Lake Champlain Basin communities, the USDA-funded On-Farm Composting Toolkit, the Food Cycle Community of Practice, and a CAV Video Library archiving hundreds of recorded sessions. The organization serves a diverse stakeholder base spanning farmers, community composters, municipal policymakers, schools, and Vermont residents, and is structurally embedded in Vermont's organics regulatory landscape (Act 148, Act 41, Act 170, and proposed Solid Waste Management Rules).

CAV does not sell a commercial product or operate a technology platform. Its business model is a contributed-revenue nonprofit structure: revenue is generated through individual donations (including an annual Year-End Community Campaign with a $10,000 goal), recurring membership dues, multi-tier event sponsorships (Black Gold, Regenerators, Enhancers, Supporters), event registration fees for VORS, and grant funding (notably USDA grants supporting the On-Farm Composting Toolkit and Soil Builders). The organization employs 1-10 staff, is led by Director Natasha Duarte with Board President Dan Goossen, and distributes its services through a mix of direct outreach, partnerships with entities such as the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, NOFA VT, UVM Extension, the US Composting Council, and Farm to Plate, plus digital channels including its website, email newsletter, and recorded video content.

Name

Composting Association of Vermont

Legal name

Composting Association of Vermont

Website

https://compostingvermont.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Composting Association of Vermont is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes composting and organics recycling in Vermont through education, policy advocacy, and coalition building, serving farmers, community composters, policymakers, and residents via its annual summit, webinar series, and grant-funded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waste Management & Composting Education

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Organics Contamination Auditing, Education & Compliance Services (BPALAEAJ)

Keywords

• Composting education
• Organics recycling
• Community composting
• Waste diversion advocacy
• Soil health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hinesburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: CAV is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Revenue is generated through donations from individuals and organizations, membership dues, and sponsor contributions. The organization conducts an annual Year-End Community Campaign with a stated goal of raising $10,000 to support education programs, policy work, and collaborative projects.
2. Event Registration and Sponsorships: Revenue is also generated through sponsorships at the Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS) and other events. Sponsors are categorized into tiers: Black Gold Sponsor, Regenerators, Enhancers, and Supporters, with varying levels of visibility and engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Composting Association of Vermont (CAV) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that promotes composting and organics recycling in Vermont. It delivers education, policy advocacy, and coalition-building through programs such as the annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit, the Compost Conversations monthly webinar series, the Soil Builders community education program, the On-Farm Composting Toolkit, and the Food Cycle Community of Practice. The organization serves farmers, community composters, policymakers, educators, and Vermont residents with resources ranging from backyard guidance to commercial-scale organics management.

Product overview

The Composting Association of Vermont (CAV) is a nonprofit organization that offers a portfolio of educational programs and resources rather than a commercial product platform. Its core offerings include the annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS), the monthly Compost Conversations webinar series, the Soil Builders Education in Action program, and the Food Cycle Community of Practice. These programs are complemented by resource toolkits, video libraries, and community composting support initiatives. CAV primarily serves as an educational and advocacy organization focused on advancing organics recycling and soil health across Vermont.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS): Annual summit bringing together leaders, innovators, and community members to explore solutions for keeping organics out of trash and turning them into valuable resources.
• Soil Builders - Education in Action
• Food Cycle Community of Practice
• Compost Conversations

Quantifiable outcome

• The 20th annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit engages composters, farmers, businesses, educators, policymakers, and community leaders statewide.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vermont Farm to PlatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont Farm to Plate is a statewide food system initiative. CAV partners with Farm to Plate to advance sustainable composting practices and strengthen Vermont's food system through collaborative projects and resource sharing.
• Lawn to LakecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLawn to Lake is a program focused on lawn care practices that protect water quality in the Lake Champlain Basin. CAV collaborates with Lawn to Lake to promote composting as a tool for clean water and healthy soils.
• Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA VT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOFA VT promotes organic agriculture and healthy food from living soil. CAV partners with NOFA VT on soil health initiatives, food systems strengthening, and educational programming.
• Protect Our Soil (PSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtect Our Soil is a coalition focused on protecting and building soil health in Vermont. CAV collaborates with PSC on advocacy, education, and community engagement around composting and soil stewardship.
• Rural VermontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRural Vermont works to advance food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture. CAV partners with Rural Vermont on policy advocacy, particularly around on-farm composting and organics management rules.
• UVM Extension Master Gardener / Vermont Composting Short CoursecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAV collaborates with UVM Extension's Master Gardener program and the Vermont Composting Short Course to provide education and training on composting for Vermont residents and professionals.
• US Composting Council (USCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAV is affiliated with the US Composting Council, participating in national standards development, policy advocacy, and knowledge sharing around composting best practices and industry standards.
• Vermont Healthy Soils CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAV partners with the Vermont Healthy Soils Coalition to advance soil health policy, payment for ecosystem services, and community-based soil stewardship across Vermont.
• UVM Super Compost Project / NemacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAV partners with the UVM Super Compost Project (Nema) to support research, education, and technical assistance around composting systems and soil health in Vermont.
• The 131 School of CompostingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 131 School of Composting provides composting education and training. CAV partners to connect practitioners with additional learning opportunities and resources.
• Soil Cycle BTVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoil Cycle BTV is a bike-powered food scrap collection service in Burlington, VT. CAV collaborates on community composting education and food scrap diversion initiatives.
• Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) / Department of Environmental ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAV co-organizes the annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit with ANR/DEC. The agency also collaborates on policy updates including Solid Waste Management Rules, Act 148, and organics management regulations. Joint press releases and public comment campaigns are common.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Food Recovery Network: National nonprofit mobilizing students to reduce food waste and recover surplus food. Operates in the adjacent food waste reduction space that connects upstream to composting programs CAV supports; not a direct peer but thematically aligned.
• Institute for Local Self-Reliance: National nonprofit advancing local economies and zero-waste systems including composting. Conducts research, advocacy, and public education on organics recycling — adjacent advocacy mission rather than a direct convening competitor in Vermont.

Direct peers

• Rural Vermont: Vermont advocacy nonprofit for family farms and food sovereignty. CAV partners with Rural Vermont on policy work around on-farm composting and organics management rules, sharing a similar advocacy-driven nonprofit structure.
• US Composting Council: National membership-based nonprofit advancing compost science, standards, and policy. CAV is explicitly affiliated with USCC; both organizations serve as convening bodies for composters, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
• Vermont Farm to Plate: Statewide food system initiative network coordinated through the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund. CAV is a core partner; both organizations convene stakeholders around sustainable food systems in Vermont through education, policy, and coalition work.
• Vermont Healthy Soils Coalition: Vermont coalition advancing soil health policy and ecosystem services payment programs. CAV partners directly with this coalition on advocacy, education, and community engagement around composting and soil stewardship.
• Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT): Vermont-focused nonprofit promoting organic agriculture and soil health through education and policy. CAV partners with NOFA-VT on soil health and food systems programming, operating a similar membership/education model in the same state.

Broad incumbents

• BioCycle (publisher / event organizer): Long-running national publisher and conference organizer serving the organics recycling and composting industry. Comparable in providing education, policy updates, and convening events for the composting sector, though operating at much larger national scale.

Regional players

• Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC): Vermont-wide environmental policy and advocacy nonprofit. Operates a similar membership-based advocacy and policy education model in Vermont, addressing land use, water quality, and waste issues that overlap with CAV's focus.
• Center for EcoTechnology: New England-based nonprofit providing practical climate solutions for residents, businesses, and institutions. Comparable nonprofit model focused on education and program delivery around waste, composting, and sustainability in the same regional footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/compostingvermont
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/composting-association-of-vermont-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Composting Association of Vermont