The Composter Podcast

<p>Today’s guest is Jeff Gage, Director of Consulting at Green Mountain Technologies and a Certified Composting Professional. One of the major themes of Season 4 is listening closely to deeply experienced composters, and Jeff fits that mold perfectly.</p><p>I’m finally learning that when it comes to these revered, long-time practitioners, the best thing to do is ditch my question script and let the stories unfold. That’s exactly what happened in this conversation.</p><p>We talk about Jeff’s background and dig into a wide range of real-world case studies — from turned aerated systems to managing water and oxygen, controlling odors, pile heights, adding air when you don’t have power, composting grape pomace, why is compost black and so much more.</p><p>Jeff was awarded the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award by the US Composting Council in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the composting industry over the past 40 years. I feel incredibly lucky to get to learn from a lifetime of experience in this episode, I hope you do too.</p><p>Check out Green Mountain Technology (👊) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.compostingtechnology.com">http://www.compostingtechnology.com</a></p><p>Jeff’s Linkedin: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-gage-962b8730/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-gage-962b8730/</a></p><p>More links links from Jeff:</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://certificationsuscc.org/">https://certificationsuscc.org/</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://tilthalliance.org/our-work/environmental-stewardship/">https://tilthalliance.org/our-work/environmental-stewardship/</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.zoo.org/zoodoo">https://www.zoo.org/zoodoo</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.compostwashington.org/">https://www.compostwashington.org/</a></p><p>Read your research (mentioned by Jeff): <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/ucsu20">https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/ucsu20</a></p><p><strong>Thank you to our Show sponsors:</strong></p><p><strong>Agrilab Technologies</strong> at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.agrilabtech.com/podcast">www.agrilabtech.com/podcast</a></p><p><strong>Viably</strong> at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thinkviably.com/">https://thinkviably.com/</a></p><p><strong>Green Mountain Technology</strong>: visit<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://compostingtechnology.com/"> </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Compostingtechnology.com">Compostingtechnology.com</a> and mention The Composter podcast for a free consultation</p><p></p><p><strong>Merch:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.html">https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.html</a></p><p>Contact:</p><p>Host Jayne Merner can be reached at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or through instagram <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/composterpodcast/">@composterpodcast</a></p>

<p>Did we hook you with the photo of Arnold Schwarzenegger and compost!? I hope so because you really want to hear about the less muscley but brilliant guy next to him who designed Arnold’s compost pilot project. In this episode we hear from Austrian engineer and entrepreneur <strong>Aurel Luebke from Compost Systems of Austria</strong>.</p><p>In this episode you will get a sense of how Aurel's thoughtful compost system designs stem from his background growing up around biodynamic farming, which if you're unfamiliar with Biodynamics its a type of organic farming that goes a bit deeper with one foundational element being that you treat the farm like a closed loop where the farm provides its own fertility. Combining that with an engineer’s mindset and a deep understanding of soil, makes for some very thoughtful compost system designs. In this episode we also talk about measuring odor units, my hot trick for getting compost stink off your boots, thoughts on the new 24 hour kitchen composters and oh yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger.</p><p>Check out Compost Systems (👊) at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.compost-systems.com">www.compost-systems.com</a></p><p>And for anyone interested in cleaning farm smells off your boots, here is a link for the de-skunk dog shampoo Jayne mentions: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wagnwash.com/categories/dog/supplies/grooming/de-skunk-odor-destroying-shampoo/1250?sku=736990000651">https://www.wagnwash.com/categories/dog/supplies/grooming/de-skunk-odor-destroying-shampoo/1250?sku=736990000651</a></p><p><strong>Thank you to our Show sponsors:</strong></p><p>Compost Systems of Austria: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.compost-systems.com/en">https://www.compost-systems.com/en</a></p><p>And Agrilab Technologies at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.agrilabtech.com/podcast">www.agrilabtech.com/podcast</a></p><p><strong>Merch:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.html">https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.html</a></p><p>Contact:</p><p>Host Jayne Merner can be reached at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or through instagram <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/composterpodcast/">@composterpodcast</a></p>

<p>Welcome to Season 4 episode 5 of the Composter. In this episode you get to meet Ryan Green from Happy Trash Can Curbside Composting in Bozeman, Montana. His experience working with the City of Bozeman, navigating public-private partnerships, and processing certified compostable products gives all of us a clearer view of what’s possible when collaboration actually works. There's plenty to be skepitical about when it comes to both composting bio plastics and the way municipalities have been outcompeting experienced, private composters with big grants and public money. But that doesn't have to be the way. Join Ryan to learn from the experiences that Happy Trash Can Curbside Composting has had getting contracts with the city, using bioplastics in his compost system and figuring out how to grow in a changing industry.</p><p>Check out Happy Compost (👊) on Instagram at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/happytrashcompost/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/happytrashcompost/?hl=en</a></p><p><strong>Thank you to our Show sponsors:</strong></p><p>Green Mountain Technology: visit<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://compostingtechnology.com/"> </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Compostingtechnology.com">Compostingtechnology.com</a> and mention The Composter podcast for a free consultation</p><p>More about BPI: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bpiworld.org/">https://bpiworld.org/</a></p><p>Information about the BPI summit and dates for 2026: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://informaconnect.com/bioprocessinternational/">https://informaconnect.com/bioprocessinternational/</a></p><p>AgriLab Technologies: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.agrilabtech.com/podcast">www.agrilabtech.com/podcast</a></p><p><strong>Merch:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.html">https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.html</a></p><p>Contact:</p><p>Host Jayne Merner can be reached at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or through instagram <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/composterpodcast/">@composterpodcast</a></p>

<p>I first heard about <strong>Grupo Puntacana’s</strong> new composting initiative while reading a BioCycle article, and I’ve been eager to dig in ever since. Their journey, led by <strong>Jake Kheel</strong>, offers a fascinating model of sustainability, scale, and innovation in the Dominican Republic.</p><p>Grupo Puntacana isn’t just a resort—it’s a whole resort ecosystem: thousands of residences, multiple hotels, restaurants, golf courses, even their international airport. The amount of waste generated is huge, and plenty of that is organics. So when Jake and his team set out to reduce landfill, cut hauling costs, and improve guest experience, they had to get serious.</p><p>They’ve had a series of trials as they scaled up from vermicomposting to small in vessel systems to the newly installed <strong>Earth Flow composting system</strong>—an enclosed, automated setup from <strong>Green Mountain Technologies</strong></p><p>Jake’s vision for Grupo Puntacana goes beyond just compost. He’s aiming for <strong>70 to 80 percent landfill diversion</strong> across the resort and its surrounding operations—and more importantly, he’s helping reshape what sustainability in tourism can actually look like.</p><p>Check out BioCylce at Grupo Puntacana (👊) at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.biocycle.net/grupo-puntacana-resort-scales-up-organics-recycling/?utm_source=BioCycle+CONNECT&amp;utm_campaign=e48755d671-CONNECT_250716&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_-6c285218e8-513844463">https://www.biocycle.net/grupo-puntacana-resort-scales-up-organics-recycling/?utm_source=BioCycle+CONNECT&amp;utm_campaign=e48755d671-CONNECT_250716&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_-6c285218e8-513844463</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Thank you to our Show sponsors:</strong></p><p>Compost Systems of Austria: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.compost-systems.com/en">https://www.compost-systems.com/en</a></p><p>And Agrilab Technologies at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.agrilabtech.com/podcast">www.agrilabtech.com/podcast</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Merch:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.html">https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.html</a></p><p>Contact:</p><p>Host Jayne Merner can be reached at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or through instagram <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/composterpodcast/">@composterpodcast</a></p>

<p>Today, I’m thrilled to share my conversation with Nathan. He’s the <strong>Director of Soil</strong> and a long-time force behind Rust Belt Riders, a cooperative composting operation that’s grown from <strong>bicycles and buckets</strong> to launching a <strong>mid-scale compost facility</strong>. Their story is truly inspiring—not just because of the growth, but because of how intentionally they’ve done it.</p><p>We talk about the early days, what it’s been like to scale, and the importance of their <strong>unique cooperative business structure</strong>—which sets them apart in the composting world. And toward the end of the conversation, Nathan shares his <strong>beautiful vision of a compost-centric utopian future</strong>. It’s heartfelt, imaginative, and honestly, something we could all use a bit more of.</p><p></p><p>Check out Rust Belt Riders (👊) at</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.rustbeltriders.com/">https://www.rustbeltriders.com/</a></p><p></p><p>Nathan mentioned Farmers of Forty Centuries; Or, Permanent Agriculture in China, Korea and Japan, a book by Franklin Hiram King that anyone interested in Compost should check out!</p><p></p><p><strong>Thank you to our Show sponsors:</strong></p><p>Green Mountain Technologies: visit<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://compostingtechnology.com/"> </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Compostingtechnology.com">Compostingtechnology.com</a> and mention The Composter podcast for a free consultation</p><p>Agrilab Technologies at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.agrilabtech.com/podcast">www.agrilabtech.com/podcast</a> </p><p>And Viably: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thinkviably.com/">https://thinkviably.com/</a></p><p><strong>Merch:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.html">https://www.earthcarefarm.com/store/c3/Clothing.html</a></p><p>Contact:</p><p>Composter Host, Jayne Merner can be reached at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or through <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/composterpodcast/">https://www.instagram.com/composterpodcast/</a></p>