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How does Compost Crowd work?
We make it easy to keep your food scraps out of the landfill.
We provide you with a 5-gallon collection bucket. You fill it with your household food scraps and leave it outside your home on collection day. We pick up your full bucket and replace it with a clean one.
Your food scraps are then composted instead of being sent to the landfill.
You fill the bucket. We take care of the rest.
Where do you provide residential service?
We currently provide residential food scrap collection throughout the Sedona and Flagstaff areas.
Sedona area:
- West Sedona
- Uptown
- Village of Oak Creek
- Chapel Area
- Red Rock Crossing Area
Flagstaff area:
- Flagstaff within city limits
- Kachina Village
- Mountainaire
- Fort Valley
- Forest Highlands
Live nearby but don’t see your area listed? Contact us and let us know where you live. We’re always interested in knowing where there is demand for future service.
How much does residential service cost?
We offer two residential collection options:
Every other week: $25/month
Weekly: $48/month
Both plans include a collection bucket and a clean bucket swap on each collection day.
What can and can’t go in my bucket?
YES — Food scraps
- Fruits and vegetables
- Citrus peels
- Melon rinds
- Avocado, peach, date, and other fruit pits
- Bread
- Pasta
- Rice and other grains
- Beans
- Nuts
- Eggshells
- Coffee grounds and paper coffee filters
- Plastic-free tea bags
YES — Other compostables
- Hair (human and pet)
- Vacuum lint
NO
- Meat or fish
- Bones
- Dairy
- Bioplastics or products labeled “compostable,” including compostable cups, lids, and BioBags
A couple of important notes: Please remove produce stickers before adding fruits or vegetables to your bucket. Tea bags are okay as long as they’re plastic-free; please check the packaging and remove any staples before adding them.
PICKUPS & BUCKETS
Can I use compostable bags or liners in my bucket?
No. We do not accept bioplastic bags or liners, even if they’re labeled “compostable.”
Please put your food scraps directly into your Compost Crowd bucket.
Why does keeping food scraps out of the landfill matter?
When food scraps are buried in a landfill, they break down without oxygen and produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Composting keeps those food scraps out of the waste stream and turns them into something useful instead: nutrient-rich compost that can be returned to the soil.
It may start with one household and one bucket, but when hundreds of Northern Arizona households participate together, those buckets add up.
That’s the Crowd.
What happens to my food scraps after you collect them?
The food scraps we collect are composted instead of being sent to the landfill. Through the composting process, those scraps are transformed into nutrient-rich compost that can be put back to use in the soil.
At least once a year, our active customers also have the opportunity to receive finished compost for their own personal use.
When is my collection day?
Sedona area: Wednesdays
Flagstaff area: Thursdays
Please have your bucket outside by 8 a.m.
Where should I leave my bucket on collection day?
Right on your front porch! 8am-8pm is our collection window.
If accessing your front porch is challenging or you’d prefer another pickup location on your property, just let us know where you’d like us to find your bucket.
Do I need to be home for pickup?
Nope! As long as your bucket is outside by 8 a.m., you’re all set.
Where should I keep my bucket between pickups?
Most Crowd members keep their bucket in a kitchen cabinet, pantry, laundry room, or garage.
You may also find it convenient to keep a small container on your kitchen counter while preparing food and empty it into your Compost Crowd bucket afterward.
We don’t recommend storing your bucket outside because: wildlife.
Will my bucket smell?
Keeping the lid securely closed between uses helps keep odors contained. Most Crowd members keep their bucket indoors in a kitchen cabinet, pantry, laundry room, or garage.
If you’re concerned about odors, transferring scraps into the bucket as you cook and closing the lid afterward is an easy way to keep things tidy.
What if I forget to put my bucket out?
If you forget to put your bucket outside by 8 a.m. on collection day, send us an email and we’ll let you know what options are available. Generally, a $7 “come-back” fee on another day is the easiest fix.
YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
What if I regularly fill my bucket before collection day?
If you’re currently on every-other-week service, switching to weekly collection may be the best fit. Weekly service is $48/month.
Already receiving weekly service and still need more capacity? Contact us and we’ll figure out the best option for your household.
Can I request an extra pickup?
Yes. If you’re on every-other-week service and unexpectedly fill your bucket early—after a party, houseguests, a very large watermelon, etc.—we can add an extra collection during your off week for $12.
Just let us know so we can get you added to the route.
Can I change my pickup frequency?
Absolutely. You can switch between weekly and every-other-week collection.
Just contact us at least seven days before your next billing date so we can make the change for the following month.
Can I pause my service while I’m out of town?
Yes! If you’ll be away for at least one month, you can pause your service for up to eight months. When you return, we’ll restart your service.
Just let us know at least seven days before your next billing date so we can pause your account.
How do I cancel my service?
Just contact us by email or phone and we’ll cancel your subscription at the end of your current billing period.
We don’t issue prorated refunds for unused service remaining in a billing cycle.
COMPOST
Do customers receive finished compost?
Yes! At least once a year, typically in the spring, we make finished compost available to our active Crowd members for personal use.
We’ll email you with details when it’s available.
COMMERCIAL COMPOSTING
Do you also provide compost collection for businesses?
Yes! We provide food scrap collection for restaurants, resorts, cafés, offices, schools, and other organizations throughout our service area.
Our commercial services are customized based on the amount of food scraps you generate, your space, and the collection frequency you need.
Visit our Restaurants or Businesses page to learn more and tell us about your organization.