www.HartfordBusiness.com • March 25, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 3
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Alexander Williams | Owner, Blue Earth Compost
By Sean Teehan
steehan@hartfordbusiness.com
A
lexander Williams graduated from Ford-
ham University with a degree in environ-
mental science in 2013, the same year Blue
Earth Compost, which he now leads, was founded.
Williams joined the com-
pany in 2014, taking over
ownership from founder
Susannah Castle, and works
as its director of operations.
The Hartford-based com-
pany collects food scraps
from about 300 residential
customers in Greater Hart-
ford and 70 commercial
customers. It uses a natural
recycling process to turn the scraps into nutri-
ent-rich compost that it delivers back to custom-
ers three times per year.
In an effort to grow the company, Williams
earlier this year secured a $133,000 loan from the
state Department of Economic and Community
Development to buy a new truck. Blue Earth is also
raising funds via crowdfunding site Indiegogo.
That fundraising campaign raised $15,000 by
the beginning of March, proof, Williams says, of
people's desire for Blue Earth's services.
In your experience, how is demand for greener
garbage disposal options?
The demand for these options is growing every
day with awareness about food waste increas-
ing around the country and state. Our customer
base has grown considerably over the last five
years. We're doing everything we can to keep this
trend moving in the right direction and expect it
to continue in the coming years.
Aside from environmental concerns, how is
composting a useful option for city-dwellers
who don't have yards or gardens?
One of the most frequent comments I get from
residential customers is, 'I barely produce any
trash any more.' If you recycle and compost you
can greatly reduce the amount and nastiness of
the trash you create, which reduces trips to the
trash can, the number of trash bags you purchase,
and the attractiveness of your trash to pests.
What kind of growth trajectory do you expect
for Blue Earth over the next five years?
Our first custom-made food scrap collection
dump truck arrived in February. This truck greatly
increases our capabilities and flexibility. Specifi-
cally, it doubles our hauling capacity and can collect
both rolling carts and dumpsters. With this and
future trucks, I expect us to be the largest hauler of
food scraps in Connecticut in the near future.
Blue Earth Compost is a benefit corporation. Can
you tell us how Blue Earth fits into this category?
For us, being a benefit corporation is about a
commitment to our environment and our commu-
nity, not just our profitability. We are committed to
diverting food scraps and to hiring second-chance
employees as well as to making money.
Newsmakers
VERBATIM
Public health insurance option gains momentum
"How can our state possibly achieve economic growth if its small employers struggle
to provide quality affordable basic health care to employees? For the sake of economic
growth — and for the basic wellbeing of Connecticut residents — [a public health
insurance option] must be a priority."
Comptroller Kevin Lembo reacting to the Insurance and Real Estate Committee
approving and moving forward a bill that would expand the state employee
health insurance plan to cover small companies with fewer than 50 workers.
GREEN SOLUTIONS…ONE SOURCE
The company that builds and installs the critical systems in virtually every type of facility
is the same company you can rely on to maintain them. For over 50 years, our clients have trusted
us to provide sustainable, more efficient, greener facilities.
We are experts in:
Energy Systems & Incentives
Building Automation Technologies
Sustainable Design & Operation
860.871.1111 Toll Free: 800.741.6367 nemsi.com
License #'s: E1-104939 • S1-302974 • P1-203519 • F1-10498 • SM1-192 • MC-1134
MECHANICAL • ELECTRICAL • PLUMBING • SHEET METAL • BUILDING AUTOMATION • FACILITIES SERVICES
Alexander Williams