After years of community interest, composting is taking its first small steps in Montgomery County through two pilot programs designed to evaluate whether the service is practical, cost-effective, and supported by residents.

The City of Clarksville began offering compost collection in July during the Clarksville Downtown Market each Saturday through October 3. In addition, Bi-County Solid Waste launched a six-month composting pilot on July 30 with two collection containers at the Sango Convenience Center, the busiest convenience center in Montgomery County.

Both programs are intended to determine whether composting can help divert organic waste from the landfill while making responsible use of existing resources. Just as importantly, the pilot programs will help determine whether the service provides enough value to justify future expansion.

"The opportunity was offered to us at no cost, so the board agreed a pilot program made good sense," said Bi-County Solid Waste Executive Director Mark Neblett. "Over the next six months, we'll evaluate how residents use the service, whether materials are placed in the bins correctly, and whether it reduces the amount of waste going into the landfill. Those results will help our board determine whether expanding the program is a wise investment."

Clarksville Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Letourneau said the Farmers Market has been a natural place to introduce composting.  "This is a service I've hoped to offer for quite some time," Letourneau said. "Starting at the Farmers Market allows us to introduce the program on a manageable scale while giving residents an easy way to participate. If the community supports it and uses it properly, it could grow into something even more beneficial."

The pilot programs grew out of conversations facilitated through the Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification Program (CMCGCP), which brought together representatives from Montgomery County, the City of Clarksville, and The Compost Company to explore practical ways to expand local waste diversion opportunities through voluntary community partnerships.

“I’m thrilled the County and City chose to move forward with these projects,” said CMCCP Manager Michelle Newell. “This is an important first step toward keeping organic materials out of our landfill and putting them to better use. Composting transforms what was once considered waste into a beneficial product that is sold to support healthier soil and creates opportunities for job growth.”

Community Participation Will Determine Success

The future of both composting programs depends entirely on community participation and proper use.

Because these are pilot programs, contamination is major concern. If trash, plastics, glass, or other prohibited materials are mixed with compostable items, entire loads may be rejected, resulting in additional disposal costs that could jeopardize the future of the program.

Residents are encouraged to place only approved compostable materials in the collection bins, including:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Eggshells
• Coffee grounds and paper filters
• Leaves, grass clippings, and other yard waste
• Food-soiled paper products, including pizza boxes

"The success of this program depends on everyone doing their part," Neblett said. "If residents use the containers correctly, we'll have good information to determine whether composting is something our community wants and can support responsibly."

Clay Ezell, owner of The Compost Company, said bringing the service home is especially meaningful. "I'm excited to launch this service in our hometown," Ezell said. "Almost our entire staff lives in Clarksville. We've provided composting services for Metro Nashville convenience centers for years and expanded into Ashland City, but serving our own community is especially rewarding. We hope residents will give the program a try and help make it successful."

The Compost Company, based in Ashland City, partners with communities throughout Middle Tennessee to collect food scraps and organic materials, converting them into nutrient-rich compost used to improve soil, reduce waste, and put valuable organic material back to work.