Local composting company offers food waste option as landfill space tightens

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — As the New Hanover County landfill faces space concerns, a local composting company is offering residents and businesses another way to dispose of food waste.

Wilmington Compost Company, a family-owned operation located in Rocky Point, has been operating since 2018. The company collects food waste from local restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses in the Wilmington area, diverting organic material from the landfill.

The composting process turns food scraps and other organic material into reusable soil products.

For a fee, families, farmers and contractors can also drop off materials such as leaves and land-clearing debris to be used in the composting process.

The company is managed by brothers Riley Alber and Trey Alber. Riley Alber said he hopes more people in the community will take part in diverting food waste from the landfill.

Recent drought conditions have also affected the composting process, with dry weather making moisture management more important for the operation.