What Chickadee Compost does

Chickadee Compost is a community-scale composting service founded in 2018 by Kate Tomkins, operating across Maine's Blue Hill peninsula, Ellsworth, and surrounding Hancock County communities. The company runs a state-licensed commercial compost facility in Surry, Maine, and has composted over one million pounds of food scraps since 2022, with 250,000+ pounds diverted in a single year (2022). Its core service is residential curbside food scrap collection, supplemented by a network of public drop-off sheds, B2B commercial pickup, and seasonal sales of finished compost (April 1 – October 31) through an online store and physical locations. Truck-mounted collection capacity supports up to 5 cubic yards per trip.

The business model is primarily subscription-based, with residential curbside collection priced at $20/month or $235/year. Secondary revenue streams include B2B pickup contracts with institutional and commercial accounts (Northern Light Blue Hill Hospital, Jackson Lab), municipal partnerships (Town of Deer Isle), drop-off shed access, and seasonal finished compost sales. The company has secured non-dilutive grant funding from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in 2020 and 2022 to support facility development and program scaling.

Operationally, Chickadee is pursuing geographic expansion through an Ellsworth curbside pilot (launched October 2025 with Green Ellsworth) and a Town of Deer Isle municipal partnership (launching March 2026), alongside extension of its drop-off shed network into Bar Harbor. The company is positioning itself as a regional organics diversion infrastructure provider in a rural Maine market where it holds early-mover status as a licensed commercial composter.

Name

Chickadee Compost

Legal name

Chickadee Compost LLC

Website

https://chickadeecompost.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Chickadee Compost is a Maine-based community composting service founded in 2018, operating residential curbside collection, drop-off sheds, B2B pickup, and a state-licensed commercial compost facility across the Blue Hill peninsula and Hancock County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Composting and Organic Waste Collection Services

NAICS

Compost Manufacturing (325315), Solid Waste Collection (562111)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Composting Facility Operations (Windrow, ASP, In-Vessel) (BPALAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organics (Food/Yard) Collection (Residential & Commercial) (EUAIAAAO), Residential Curbside Organics Programs (Municipal/Franchise) (BPALAEAF), Compost & Compost Blends (AFABADAE)

Keywords

• Food scrap collection
• Community composting services
• Curbside compost pickup
• Finished compost sales
• Organic waste diversion

Headquarters

HQ city

Surry

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Household Subscription Service: Monthly or annual subscription for curbside food scrap collection in Ellsworth ($20/month or $235/year), with free bucket for first 50 signups and free 5-gallon compost bag twice yearly.
2. Finished Compost Sales: Sale of finished compost in bulk (by cubic yard), half cubic yard, and bagged quantities (8 gallon, 5 gallon). Seasonal sales from April 1 to October 31 with subscriber priority.
3. Business Food Scrap Pickup: Subscription-based pickup service for businesses and organizations with variable pricing based on location and quantity of scraps.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Chickadee Patch merchandise (embroidered patches with iron-on backing) for brand promotion.
5. Affiliate Revenue: Affiliate relationship with Good Start Packaging where Chickadee earns a percentage of net sales purchased through referral links.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chickadee Compost is a community composting service that collects organic waste—including food scraps, crab waste, and spent grain—from households, businesses, schools, and municipalities across Maine's Blue Hill peninsula, Ellsworth, and Hancock County. The company operates a commercially licensed compost facility in Surry, Maine, where collected organic material is processed into finished compost sold back to the community in bulk and bagged quantities.

Product overview

Chickadee Compost is a community composting service operating on Maine's Blue Hill peninsula and in Ellsworth. The company operates a multi-channel service model: (1) Shed Swap / Drop Off Service — community compost sheds where households drop off food scraps; (2) Curbside Collection Service — weekly curbside pickup for downtown Ellsworth residents; and (3) Business Food Scrap Pick-up Service — scheduled pick-up subscriptions for larger businesses and organizations. Chickadee Compost sells finished compost products back to the community through the Store, including Bulk Compost (by the cubic yard or half cubic yard), Bagged Compost (5-gallon and 8-gallon options), and Chickadee Patch merchandise. Finished compost is produced at their commercially licensed facility in Surry, Maine from food scraps, spent grain, crab waste, mouse bedding, and wood chips.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chickadee Patch: An iron-on patch product sold in the store for $8.00, measuring 2.05 inches wide by 1.15 inches tall.

Products and services

• Shed Swap / Drop Off Service Community food scrap drop-off service via compost sheds located in Surry, Blue Hill, Ellsworth (Fogtown Brewing), Deer Isle, and Stonington (Healthy Island Project). Subscribers receive a clean bucket and can dump unlimited food scraps; Surry headquarters is a free community drop-off. Includes subscriber benefits such as early access to compost sales and free finished compost each spring and fall.
• Curbside Collection Service Weekly curbside food scrap pickup for households in downtown Ellsworth. Subscribers receive a 4-gallon lidded bucket placed curbside each Wednesday morning by 9 a.m. for collection. Pricing is $20/month per household or $235 annually. Accepts all food types including meat, seafood, shells, and dairy.
• Business Food Scrap Pick-up Service Scheduled food scrap pickup subscription for larger businesses and organizations. Clean bins are left for the business to fill as needed, with collection on a defined schedule. Pricing varies based on location and quantity of scraps.
• Bulk Compost Finished screened compost sold by the cubic yard ($110) or half cubic yard / 100 gallons ($70). Produced from local food scraps, spent grain, crab waste, mouse bedding, wood chips, air, rain, fungi, bacteria, and insects at the Surry, Maine facility. Seasonal sales from April 1 to October 31 with subscriber priority.
• Bagged Compost (5 Gallons) 5 gallons of finished bagged compost recommended as 1-2 inches of top dressing in spring and/or fall. Made in Surry, Maine without peat. Priced at $10.50 per bag.
• Bagged Compost (8 Gallons) 8 gallons of finished bagged compost, double the quantity of the 5-gallon option. Priced at $16.50 per bag. Made at the Surry, Maine facility.
• Chickadee Patch Merchandise Iron-on embroidered patch featuring Chickadee Compost branding, measuring 2.05 inches wide by 1.15 inches tall. Sold for $8 to promote the brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• Diverted over 250,000 pounds of food scraps, crab waste, and spent grain in 2022
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Town of Deer IslecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership to offer food scrap composting for all Deer Isle residents starting March 3rd, 2026. First town in Hancock County to establish food scrap composting service at their Transfer Station. Partnership to compost crab waste since 2022.
• Good Start PackagingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChickadee Compost is an affiliate of Good Start Packaging. Earns a percentage of net sales purchased through affiliate links. Good Start Packaging is a compostable packaging supplier and certified B Corp based in New Hampshire.
• Green EllsworthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Ellsworth partnered with Chickadee Compost to offer a pilot food scrap collection service for the city of Ellsworth. Residents in downtown Ellsworth can sign up for weekly curbside food scrap pickups.
• Blue Hill Heritage TrustminorOthersNonprofit conservation organization in Blue Hill, Maine. Listed as current partner.
• Bar Harbor Garden ClubminorOthersGarden club in Bar Harbor, Maine. Listed as current partner and affiliate relationship for Bar Harbor Drop Shed signup.
• The Blue Hill Co-OpminorOthersCooperative in Blue Hill, Maine. Drop shed location partner for community food scrap collection.
• Maine Coast Heritage TrustminorOthersLand trust organization on Mount Desert Island. Listed as current partner.
• Healthy Island ProjectminorOthersNonprofit organization in Stonington, Maine. Drop shed location partner for community food scrap collection.
• Haystack Mountain School of CraftsminorOthersCraft school in Deer Isle, Maine. Listed as current partner.
• The Brooklin InnminorOthersInn in Brooklin, Maine. Business partner for food scrap composting.
• Sisters SalsaminorOthersFood business in Blue Hill, Maine. Business partner for food scrap composting.
• Burnt Cove BoilminorOthersFood business in Stonington, Maine. Business partner for food scrap composting.
• Under Canvas AcadiaminorOthersGlamping resort in Surry, Maine. Business partner for food scrap composting.
• KYCminorOthersOrganization in Blue Hill, Maine. Listed as current partner.
• Precipice CoffeeminorOthersCoffee business in Ellsworth, Maine. Business partner for food scrap composting.
• Loaves and Fishes Food PantryminorOthersFood pantry in Ellsworth, Maine. Nonprofit partner for food scrap composting.
• Northern Light Blue Hill HospitalcoreOthersHospital in Blue Hill, Maine. Recently started composting with Chickadee Compost as an essential community resource to reduce emissions and improve local soils.
• Simmering PotminorOthersCommunity organization in Blue Hill, Maine (affiliated with Healthy Peninsula). Nonprofit partner for food scrap composting.
• HumblebeeminorOthersCafe in Blue Hill, Maine. Business partner for food scrap composting.
• Blue Hill InnminorOthersInn in Blue Hill, Maine. Business partner for food scrap composting.
• Blue ChillminorOthersOrganization in Blue Hill, Maine. Listed as current partner.
• BarncastleminorOthersBusiness in Blue Hill, Maine. Listed as current partner.
• El El FrijolesminorOthersFood business in Sargentville, Maine. Business partner for food scrap composting.
• Strong's Public HouseminorOthersRestaurant in Sedgwick, Maine. Business partner for food scrap composting.
• BirdsacreminorOthersOrganization in Ellsworth, Maine. Listed as current partner.
• TinderhearthminorOthersFood business in Brooksville, Maine. Business partner for food scrap composting.
• Hiram Blake CampminorOthersCamp in Brooksville, Maine. Business partner for food scrap composting.
• The Jackson LabminorOthersResearch institution with locations in Bar Harbor and Ellsworth, Maine. Listed as current partner.
• Fogtown BrewingminorOthersBrewery in Ellsworth, Maine. Drop shed location partner and source of spent grain for composting.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bootstrap Compost: Vermont-based community composting service offering residential and commercial food scrap pickup with finished compost return to subscribers. Highly analogous New England subscription model targeting the same household and SMB customer base.
• Veteran Compost: Maryland-based residential and commercial composting service combining curbside collection with on-site facility operations. Comparable vertically integrated model (collection plus facility, plus retail compost sales) at slightly larger scale.
• Compost Now: North Carolina-based curbside food waste pickup service for households and businesses with finished compost returned to subscribers. Operates a similar subscription pricing structure and channel mix (curbside plus drop-off) as Chickadee.
• Black Earth Compost: Massachusetts-based residential and commercial food waste collection service that hauls to composting facilities. Comparable subscription-driven collection model serving households, schools, and businesses in New England, with finished compost sold back to the community.
• Maine Compost Company: Maine-based composting and organics hauling service operating in similar geography to Chickadee. Direct competitor for household, business, and institutional food scrap collection contracts across the state.
• Garbage to Garden: Portland, Maine-based curbside food scrap collection and composting service serving residential and commercial customers. Closest geographic and operational peer to Chickadee, with a comparable subscription-based collection model and finished compost retail business.

Broad incumbents

• Republic Services: National solid waste hauler with an expanding organics recycling line of business, including food waste collection and processing. Represents the institutional, scaled alternative Chickadee may compete against as municipalities consolidate contracts.
• Casella Waste Systems: Large Northeast US solid waste and recycling hauler headquartered in Vermont with growing organics recycling programs. Adjacent incumbent that competes for institutional and municipal organics contracts at scale, including in Maine.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/chickadeecompost
• Facebookfacebook.com/chickadeecompost

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 Chickadee Compost