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CSWD monitors Gartner Supply bankruptcy; staff say compost sales can be redistributed to other buyers
Summary
Gartner Supply, a major buyer of CSWD compost, filed for Chapter 11. CSWD staff told the board the company represented about 26% of the district’s sales; staff are pursuing receivable recovery and expanding customer outlets to absorb material if Gartner’s assets change hands.
Chittenden Solid Waste District staff informed commissioners on June 25 that Gartner Supply has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Sarah Reeves, CSWD executive director, told the board Gartner “do[es] represent about 26% of our... sales, and that has been a great steady source of sales for us.”
The district said it has an outstanding receivable of approximately $74,000 from Gartner and is working with counsel to file a claim in the bankruptcy proceedings. Staff said they are number 20 on Gartner’s creditor list and will seek to recover as much of the receivable as possible through the bankruptcy process.
Reeves and staff also described contingency steps to mitigate market disruption: staff have opened conversations with other regional garden centers and wholesalers and said there is likely absorptive capacity among other buyers. Reeves said the district will begin deliveries to additional buyers; staff reported sending 100 cubic yards to an Addison County garden center that had not received product from CSWD in several years.
Reeves said Gartner has a potential buyer in the proceedings and that the buyer is a national company with garden‑center assets; the district expects more clarity by the anticipated bankruptcy closing date in early August. Because the sales season is winding down, staff said they do not expect material shipments to Gartner beyond existing invoices, which should limit new receivables.
The board asked staff to continue monitoring the proceedings and report back; staff said they will seek to recover the receivable while also expanding local sales channels to absorb product if Gartner exits regional retail distribution.
