“Imagine if the compost enriching our soils today, produced by local organic waste diversion programs, nurtured the crops for next season’s clothing,” says Clinton Sander, marketing director for A1 Organics. “And what if the farmers wore clothing made from fibers they grew with the help of compost derived from their communities’ food scraps?

“That’s the beauty of circularity. ‘Waste’ becomes a valuable resource, closing the loop of consumption and increasing regeneration.”

Founded in Eaton, Colorado, in 1974, A1 Organics is the state’s leader in organic recycling. In the intervening years, the family-owned company has recycled over 11 million tons of organic material from Colorado landfills. But diversion is only half the equation—A1 sells 400,000 cubic yards of organic composts, mulches and soil products that create healthier, more resilient soil for farmers navigating increasing droughts and erosion.

“We talk about food waste and green waste as waste,” Sander says. “But organics are valuable natural resources, not waste. They have regenerative power once turned into compost. Let’s remove the word ‘waste’ from our vocabulary.”

The US Composting Council emphasizes that compost acts like a sponge in the soil, absorbing and holding moisture while allowing for adequate drainage. Research from the EPA indicates that compost-amended soil can hold up to 18–20 times the organic matter in weight than non-amended soil. The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service states adding just 1 percent organic matter to the top 6 inches of soil can increase water retention capacity to 27,000 gallons per acre.

And that’s just what’s happening underground.

The EPA estimates that for every 1,000 tons of food waste landfilled, an estimated 34 metric tons of fugitive methane emissions are released. This is then compounded because methane is 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Composting, however, allows food waste to decompose naturally, which lowers methane emissions.

Composting at scale is a lot more work than dumping piles of organic waste, which is why A1 Organics has 45 full-time employees. The process at A1 begins with the meticulous removal of contaminants followed by processing through a high-volume shredder capable of handling up to 300 cubic yards per hour—the equivalent of three full-sized semi-truck trailers. Shredding reduces the size of the organics, creating increased surface area that facilitates microbial activity crucial for decomposition.

Once shredded, the material is strategically blended with other organic inputs to achieve the optimal balance of moisture, nitrogen and carbon. This mixture is then formed into windrows, which are piles 1,000 feet long, 26 feet wide and up to 16 feet high. Over a period of 90 to 120 days, the windrows are monitored for temperature and oxygen levels and mixed with mechanized turners when levels need to be changed to sustain an optimal environment for microbial decomposition.

Then, the material is passed through large trommel screens, which classify the compost into different particle sizes. The finest fraction is cured for 30 days to further stabilize nutrient content, and undergoes compost testing certified by the US Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance (STA), before being shipped to farmers, ranchers, construction sites and for use in urban parks and commercial turf applications.

Composting is nothing new, but doing it at scale holds the potential to mitigate the climate crisis. “Closing the compost loop, the connection between the beginning and end of the organics recycling process, is the most powerful part of our work,” Sander says. “It’s about urging individuals and businesses to rethink how they manage their natural resources (waste), ensuring that every bit finds a responsible end-market rather than ending up in landfills. Compost isn’t just a soil amendment, it’s a catalyst for healthier soils, thriving ecosystems and, ultimately, nutrient-dense food.”