Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Alexander.
Hi Megan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In the spring of 2022, I took over Carter’s Compost from the boy who started the operation 10 year prior. Carter’s Compost is a compost collection and delivery service that hauls food scraps from your kitchen or business to local composting sites for processing.
Once the scraps have evolved into finished compost, it is returned to local soils through subscribers who have their scraps picked up by Carter’s Compost, donations to community gardens and sales for use in yards, pots, gardens, beds and farms.
At Carter’s Compost, we believe that the resilience and beauty of our community is inseparable from the health of the land we live on. Transforming our food scraps into fertile compost is one small way we can collectively nurture the land in the midst of global environmental crisis, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and regenerate Michigan soils.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Running Carter’s Compost has been a learning experience with many opportunities to think outside the box. Building a materials management business in a region with high land costs and limited access to suitable space has been a major challenge. Composting requires infrastructure, equipment, permits and room to grow — all of which can be difficult to secure in a high-demand area like that which surrounds Traverse City.
Despite these hurdles, we’ve leaned into creativity, collaboration, and persistence. Partnerships have been key to our success. In 2024, we secured a contract with the City of Traverse City to help operate their food scrap composting pilot, which was a huge milestone for us. Managing growth while balancing capacity remains an ongoing challenge, but it’s also what keeps us motivated. We’re continually planning for expansion so we can process more materials, divert more waste from landfills, and make a bigger impact on our region’s sustainability goals.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Carter’s Compost?
Carter’s Compost is a community-powered food scrap collection and composting business based in Traverse City, Michigan. We specialize in turning local food waste into nutrient-rich compost that helps build healthy soils and support a more sustainable local food system. Our mission is simple: keep food scraps out of the landfill and return their value back to the earth.
What sets us apart is our community-driven approach. From the beginning, Carter’s Compost has been rooted in local partnerships, youth engagement, and neighborhood-scale sustainability. We’re known for making composting accessible and approachable — whether through our curbside collection service, community drop-off sites, or collaborations with schools, restaurants, and local governments.
We’re especially proud of our role in helping shape the region’s composting infrastructure. In 2024, we partnered with the City of Traverse City to help operate their food scrap composting pilot, a major step toward expanding organics recycling in northern Michigan. Our 6-fold growth since 2022 proves that we are providing a valuable service that we look forward to expanding to make available to more residents and businesses.
Brand-wise, we take pride in being authentic, grassroots, and mission-focused. Carter’s Compost isn’t just about waste diversion — it’s about building a culture of environmental stewardship and showing that small, local actions can have a big impact. We want readers to know that every bucket of food scraps collected helps create a cleaner, greener, more resilient community.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes us happy is knowing that the work we do every day contributes to something bigger than ourselves. At Carter’s Compost, our vision has always been to make this area of the world better than we found it — cleaner, greener, and more connected through community action.
Being a sustainability steward in our beautiful community is an honor that we don’t take lightly. We feel a deep responsibility to care for this place and to protect the natural beauty that makes northern Michigan so special. Helping keep this region beautiful brings us immense happiness — not just as business owners, but as neighbors and parents.
As a mother to two young kids, I want them to grow up in a space that nurtures them — one where clean air, healthy soil, and thriving ecosystems are part of everyday life. Seeing our work contribute to that future fills me with pride and gratitude. Working toward that vision, step by step, is what truly makes us happy.
Pricing:
- See website
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carterscompost.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carterscompost
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CartersCompost
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carterscompost
