Compost USA is a community-minded company with a vision to provide environmentally sustainable solutions by converting organic waste to beneficial marketable products. This Florida-based company first opened their doors in Sumter county, but have since expanded to Lake, Charlotte, and most recently, Highlands County. Locally, they currently maintain a staff of seven employees, all paid at least $10k above the median wage for our area. Most of the current staff are Highlands County natives, with Clayton Mason, from Lake Placid, serving as the site manager.
In their first year, Compost USA has already begun assisting Highlands County’s municipalities by taking organic waste from both Sebring and Lake Placid to use as feedstock in the process of creating Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) compliant material. Their site in Lake Placid is also set to serve as a collection site for Hurricane debris, much of which can also be used as feedstock to create compost.
The company is currently working on plans for expansion to double in the amount of employees and expand production. While Compost USA currently processes organic waste on the Lake Placid Site, they will soon add a soil blending facility that will produce quality potting soils for the horticulture industry. Compost USA serves the majority of Florida through a variety of outlets including agricultural, horticultural, golf courses, nurseries, and sod farms.
Tony Simon, General Manager of Compost USA, is grateful for the help from the Highlands County Development Services Office; “the process could not have been easier to expand our operation into this beautiful community. The staff at the county were helpful and explicit in direction, and the community as a whole has welcomed us with open arms.” The company is looking forward to completing some community projects as a thank you to their new neighbors.