How can going the extra mile for your customers lead to a million-pound impact?

Ray Leard, the "Compost King" of Central Ohio, talks about the driving forces behind his incredible success with the Compost Exchange. Ray shares invaluable insights into his customer-centric philosophy, the key role pilot programs played in expanding the business, and the challenges he faced in finding facilities to process the staggering amount of food waste collected. With a focus on delivering an unparalleled experience through attention to detail and responsiveness, Ray's innovative approach to composting captured the hearts of over 3,500 members. As he transitions to his next venture, Purely American Organics, Ray's vision is to establish a local processing facility that fosters a sense of community ownership and pride in sustainable living.

Episode in a glance

• The importance of pilot programs in expanding the Compost Exchange
• The difference between residential and commercial composting
• Challenges in finding processing facilities for collected food waste
• Assessing the replicability of Ray's composting success elsewhere
• Ray's customer-centric philosophy: "It's a relationship business"
• How customers shaped the Compost Exchange business
• The remarkably low contamination rates of collected food waste
• The power of small details: Perfectly aligned compost bins
• Bringing local, community-focused processing to Columbus

About Ray Leard

Ray Leard is a sustainability pioneer and the driving force behind the Compost Exchange, the first and largest service provider of residential curbside food scrap recycling and composting in Central Ohio. Over the years, he has diverted over 500 tons of food waste from landfills annually, transforming the way an entire community of over 3 million people approaches food waste. Ray has since sold the Compost Exchange and launched a new organization called Purely American Organics, continuing his mission to empower communities to embrace sustainable practices.

You can connect with Ray and learn more about his work at purelyamericanorganics.com

Resources

Greenacres Compost → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL55voWdgbw

Composting At A Food Bank - Dayton, Ohio → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mYpjw-wDco

Send us a message!

Ray Leard is dubbed as the "Compost King" for his pioneering efforts in bringing large-scale composting to Central Ohio. As the founder of the Compost Exchange, Ray single-handedly paved the way for residential curbside food scrap recycling and composting services in a region of over 3 million people. His journey began in 2012 with a small experiment in Athens, where he built a composting operation from scratch. Fueled by a passion for sustainability and a knack for building relationships, Ray expanded to Columbus in 2016, recruiting over 3,500 members to the Compost Exchange through a strategic farmer's market approach and educational outreach. His innovative mindset and unwavering commitment resulted in a staggering impact – diverting over 500 tons of food waste from landfills annually.

Episode in a glance

• Introduction to Ray Leard and the Compost Exchange
• How Ray's composting journey began in Athens, Ohio
• The pivotal moment that led to the birth of the Compost Exchange
• Expanding the Compost Exchange to Columbus and the farmer's market approach
• The importance of building relationships in the composting business
• Ray's philosophy on teaching and empowering others
• Compost 101: Debunking misconceptions and making it accessible
• The power of composting: "I can change the world"
• The staggering impact of the Compost Exchange

About Ray Leard

Ray Leard is a sustainability pioneer and the driving force behind the Compost Exchange, the first and largest service provider of residential curbside food scrap recycling and composting in Central Ohio. Over the years, he has diverted over 500 tons of food waste from landfills annually, transforming the way an entire community of over 3 million people approaches food waste. Ray has since sold the Compost Exchange and launched a new organization called Purely American Organics, continuing his mission to empower communities to embrace sustainable practices.

You can connect with Ray and learn more about his work at purelyamericanorganics.com

Send us a message!

Picture your dream wedding. Does it include overflowing trash cans and wilting flowers? Probably not.

But weddings are often surprisingly wasteful. However, one inspiring event planner is determined to change this.

Dana Watts, founder of Thyme & Details, is on a mission to bring sustainability to the forefront of weddings without sacrificing the beauty and romance. Thyme & Details specializes in creating whimsical, eco-conscious weddings. Dana works tirelessly to address the key areas of waste: food, florals, and decor. By partnering with caterers and florists who share her vision, she ensures leftover food is donated, flower arrangements are repurposed, and decorations are sourced responsibly or reused.

Episode in a glance

- Thyme & Details' approach to eliminating waste and promoting sustainability in event planning
- Common misconceptions about the cost of sustainable weddings
- Sustainability Real-world Applications: Renting vs. buying, waste management, and more
- Networking and Partnerships for Sustainability
- Stems for Seniors: Donating leftover floral arrangements
- Food Donation and the Good Samaritan Law
- Choosing a Sustainable Venue and Local Vendors
- Dana's advice for aspiring sustainable entrepreneurs and event planners
- The Power of Sharing and Inspiring Sustainability
- Podcast Bonus: Tree Donations and Wedding Stories

About Dana Watts

Dana Watts is the founder and lead planner of Thyme & Details, a sustainable event planning company based in Columbus, Ohio. With a degree in Environment, Economics, Development and Sustainability from Ohio State University, Dana combines her passion for events with her commitment to eco-conscious practices.

Connect with Dana Watts and learn more about Thyme & Details

Website → https://www.thymeanddetails.com/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thymeanddetails

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thymeanddetails/

Columbus Food Rescue → https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusFoodRescue

Send us a message!