Bootstrap Compost

01/01/2025

Fourteen years ago TODAY, a follically unchallenged upstart by the name of Andy Brooks posted several flyers in his neighborhood advertising food scrap pickup service for area residents — by bicycle!

Within two weeks, Bootstrap Compost had nearly 30 customers and a queue of 66 emails.

Within a few months, Bootstrap had a Web site.

And within six months of 1/1/2011, Andy found a business partner in Igor Kharitonenkov, a Bootstrap customer with a passion for hiking, travel and the natural environment.

Since the company’s incorporation in 2012, Bootstrap (which welcomed Stom Cadet — a former driver — into the ownership group in 2020) has remained fiercely dedicated to providing clean, convenient, community-centric composting to homes and businesses throughout our service areas.

In Bootstrap’s early years, our mantra was “Too Dumb to Quit.” And though the punishing hours and crummy pay still very much remain, these days we’re guided by a more positive principle — one fully soaked in the conviction that composting is FUN, impactful (over 15 million pounds diverted), endlessly interesting and completely life altering for households, businesses, local economies and local agriculture. Believe us — with 30 staffers and nearly 4,500 subscribers in four states — we can attest!

This is all to say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOOTSTRAP. We’re so looking forward to another year committed to our convictions and YOURS. Compost on. Stay dumb! And Happy New Year.

Sincerely,
Andy & Team Boot

12/25/2024

NOHO HO! Call it a Christmas Miracle. We've opened up pre-registration for our February launch of residential curbside service in .

Also available in and ; all starting at $17 per month!

Email [email protected] for more information. And happy holidays.

11/15/2024

Oh hey Juan Carlos!

It’s been a minute since we have shown off our amazing crew.

JC moved to Providence two years ago from NYC with his family. He’s pretty much been a part of the Bootstrap family since then. He’s a family man all around. Him and his girlfriend have two kids and when he’s not slaying waste with Bootstrap, he loves nature, philosophy, reading, & cooking homemade Spanish food. His favorite? Pollo guisao! Shoutout to the DR!

In his own words: “why Bootstrap? We’re saving the earth, little by little. Which adds up at the end of a (long) workday, and I appreciate that! The owners are great people too, they take care of us.” 🥹

It’s good to be a Bootstrapper.

11/12/2024

Megan Douglas from Barrington School District caught up with us at a recent event and we realized that in less than one year, Barrington schools had implemented a composting program at almost every school! That’s pretty impressive! We’re honored to play our role!!

10/30/2024

We love our work with schools! Team Boot was recently at the Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition Breakfast for Wellness Leaders. It was great to be a part of the conversations about how we can improve the health of schools and kids. We are looking forward to our educational workshops for the districts that stopped by to talk to us!

10/11/2024

When Barbie reached out to us about getting clean bucket service for the Barbie Dream house, we were so excited!!
Joking aside, how cute is this tiny bucket? Doesn’t fit much but we truly believe, every bucket counts!

09/28/2024

🔥Can you believe we raffled off ONE YEAR of Bootstrap services?!

Thank you for hosting a wonderful event and thank you for having Amy on your panel.

So much positive information was shared and we are honored to be Westford’s compost partner!

07/22/2024

INCHING CLOSER: We're hosting our second “Wormy Wednesday'' open house at our warehouse in Everett, Mass. on July 24. Then and there you’ll have the opportunity to see, smell and actually feel Bootstrap HQ in all its gory!

Curious to learn how castings are made? Come on through. Bring the kids. 6-8 p.m.

DM for details.

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06/25/2024

Calling all compost nuts short on plans! This Wednesday, Team Boot is kicking off its summerlong open house series (AKA WORMY WEDNESDAY) at our Everett, Mass. HQ (145-147 Broadway; half a mile east of the casino!).

From 6 to 8 p.m., we'll be talking slop and the future of food waste in Boston and beyond; sipping Mexican lager; and showcasing our vermicompost operation (modules by Wormgear). All attendees can leave with as many castings as they can hold; all for $1 per pound.

Please plan on biking or taking the T. Parking is rough and unfortunately, our lot can only accommodate company vehicles.
This event is family friendly! There are worms, after all.

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06/22/2024

Years ago, Miguel started as a driver at Bootstrap on residential routes. These days, he's our chief schmoozer AND large-accounts hauler (operating high-capacity vehicles like our F650 equipped with a Perkins Satellite Collection Unit).

Now what’s super cool for us is the unbridled enthusiasm on display in this photo from students at the Greenhalge Elementary School in Lowell. And though it’s certainly conceivable that their giddiness stems from an inevitable summer break, we are 95 percent certain it’s all about their diversion impact.

Since enrolling with Bootstrap in May, the school’s 450 students (pre-K through 4th grade) have diverted 350 pounds of organics from the waste stream. Thumbs up, all around.

Is a school in your community in need of a sustainability jolt?! Give us a shout at info AT bootstrapcompost DOT COM.

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05/22/2024

Please excuse Team Boot for having an EXTRA SKIP in our step this week. We only recently learned that we were named one of 10 awardees of the 2024 BIPOC Community Composter Mini-Grant Program from the inimitable Institute of Local Self-Reliance. Specifically, Bootstrap was awarded the grant for advancing composting services for public housing residents in the City of Boston.

From the release….

‘Projects are diverse in scale and operation but are united in their mission-driven, innovative approach to community improvement. The support of ’s makes this opportunity possible. This BIPOC Community Composter Mini-Grant Program provides $165,000 in sub-grants to selected grantees, with a minimum grant of $5,000 and a maximum of $20,000.”

But we ain’t done! So calling ALL public housing residents and advocates — give us a shout and let's work on solutions. Together we will keep advancing the accessibility of composting infrastructure throughout the Northeast for years to come.

05/20/2024

Call it a career highlight. Last week, we set up the Xfinity Center(capacity 19,900) with 23 toters with the simple goal of capturing and processing all manner of its compostable service ware. The storied venue is, to be sure, our biggest account by every measure.

Our biggest takeaway, meanwhile, is the enormous potential of musical and performance venues to become +MAJOR PLAYERS+ in the compost movement. Hear us venues!? We’re here and ready to rock and to roll and to break down your compostable feedstocks.

Props to Live Nation Concerts for understanding the power of composting at live events.

05/07/2024

03/30/2024

And just like that, has entered the fourth quarter! Score your castings today at 20% OFF before the final buzzer sounds in a few short days. Visit our Shop at bootstrapcompost.com to make it happen

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03/29/2024

OLD PIC, NEW NEWS: This week, Team Boot delivered 2 yards (or about 2,500 pounds) of our castings-infused compost to the 8 places of learning that comprise North Andover Public Schools. This vibrant community of admin, teachers and students in grades preschool through 12 is among Bootstrap's biggest consortium of waste slayers.

Props to these schools and this community for their long commitment to wise resource management, compost education, and their practical use of the finished product for their fields and gardens. Thank you and enjoy the compost!

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03/07/2024

Farmer Anna from Stone Bridge Farm in has partnered with Bootstrap for a few short months. In case it wasn't completely obvious, she has loads of enthusiasm for receiving clean, locally-generated food scraps for the purpose of transforming them into a soil amendment for growing more food.

This, Boot Nation, is what it’s all about.: Homes supporting Bootstrap to support growers to feed homes.

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03/04/2024

What an assist! 20 percent off castings all monthlong.

Visit our Shop at bootstrapcompost dot com to pick up a shot or two of our silky, microbe-rich soil amendment.

03/03/2024

Bootstrap co-founder Andy Brooks is THRILLED to be taking part in the upcoming The Healing Power of Plants online masterclass, which launches tomorrow (March 4)! Brooks will be joining other professionals in the fields of herbalism, organic gardening, and natural health and wellness.

Whether you're just getting started working with plants or are a seasoned green thumb looking for some inspiration, the series — hosted by Lauren Almquist (aka https://www.facebook.com/heartspaceherbals ) — promises practical tips and mindset shifts to deepen your relationship with plants.

You can register for a complimentary spot at https://www.healingherbalgardens.com/ABrooks. The series runs through March 8.