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Private hauler Black Earth outlines residential and centralized compost options to Plaistow Selectmen
Summary
Black Earth Compost presented residential curbside pickup, centralized transfer-station drop-off and school/commercial collection models to the Plaistow Board of Selectmen; company said a residential subscription would be about $3'$4 per week and a starter kit costs $30'$39.
Representatives from Black Earth Compost briefed the Plaistow Board of Selectmen on March 24 about options for collecting and processing food scraps, answering questions about costs, operational requirements and next steps for the town.
Justin Sandler, co-owner of Black Earth Compost, and John Laurie, municipal coordinator for the company, told the board Black Earth operates four processing sites (including Groton) and a vertically integrated hauling and processing fleet. Sandler said roughly 30'40% of municipal solid waste is compostable and that diverting that material could meaningfully reduce town waste tonnage and tipping fees.
Laurie described two primary near-term options: a centralized bin at the town transfer station for residents who do not want to pay a subscription fee, and a residential curbside pickup service billed at roughly $3'$4 per household per week. The company's starter kit ranges from $30 to $39 and includes a 13-gallon bin and starter compostable bags; Black Earth would supply additional bags through a resident portal. Laurie said a reasonable density threshold for beginning curbside service is about 75 subscribing households in a neighborhood or service area; he also described locked bins for apartment complexes and the option to redeem a compost voucher at local garden centers rather than arranging home delivery of compost bags.
Sandler and Laurie discussed contamination control and quality assurance: drivers photograph contaminated bins, rejected loads are reported through a customer portal, and processing includes hand-picking and screening to limit plastics and stickers that can reduce product quality. The company reported it can deliver educational outreach for schools and run public engagement events to lower contamination.
Selectmen asked about start-up costs, equipment, and siting a centralized drop-off. Black Earth said a 48-gallon cart costs roughly $22 per cart at scale for a transfer-station program and that the town would need a dedicated spot and signage. The presenters suggested the transfer station could be a quick way to pilot a program and that the company could begin curbside service once sufficient subscribing density and routing make it viable.
Black Earth said it is already operating in nearby communities, has been listed as an organics hauler in New Hampshire, and offered to host site visits at its Groton facility. The board did not vote on the matter but directed staff to continue exploring options and to coordinate next steps with the company.
