ABOUT
As a community based non-profit, we support a healthy transition where food is never wasted, but returned to the soil for the next cycle of life.
Cooperatively with a diverse network of partners within LA County, we co-create spaces for local compost access and engagement, restorative practices, and community empowerment. Community composting takes a collective effort.
OUR STORY
LA Compost began in 2013 with the collective efforts of volunteers, friends and family.
We wanted communities to see how far their organic material was traveling and the harmful effects it had on the environment. In the beginning, our collection crew rode bikes with trailers that allowed them to haul food scraps, leaves, paper, and other organic material from restaurants, homes, and schools to local compost centers. While this model has worked in other cities, LA’s sprawl made the pilot unsustainable.
In 2014, LA Compost shifted to a model of decentralized community compost hubs -cared for, maintained and enjoyed by activated community members. LA Compost hubs are built in places where people coexist -in churches, schools, gardens, and workplaces. We now have community compost hubs throughout LA County. Each hub reflects the community in which it's located, but they all serve the same purpose. They compost organics locally while creating shared spaces for people to connect with each other and the natural world.
In 2018, we defined our scope according to the Hierarchy to Reduce Food Waste and Grow Community established by the Institute of Local Self Reliance. Our programs serve the individual for home composting, the community with access and education to a decentralized network of composting infrastrucutre, as well as regionally based sites for organics processing, compost creation, and continued education.
LEARN HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Meet the Team
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Alyssa is a San Fernando Valley native whose passion for environmentalism began during her undergraduate studies at UC Irvine. Since then, her experiences as a microbiologist (MS) and in the non-profit sector have guided her work in science education. She is dedicated to creating fun, accessible, and equitable programs that allow community members of all ages to connect with our diverse natural surroundings, from the smallest soil microbes to the largest ancient oaks.
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Elizabeth is a devoted folk herbalist, gardener, and daughter of the earth. Her work is guided by the elements, allowing her to intuitively harmonize with the land. She finds immense joy in tending to the land, using composting as a way to express her gratitude and reciprocity with the earth. As a creatress, she embraces resourcefulness, transforming food scraps into a variety of useful creations, from fermented delights to natural cleaning detergents. Her passion for sustainability and creative reuse reflects her commitment to nurturing the environment and celebrating the abundance it offers.
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A local resident of the Panorama City area, Andrea found Cottonwood Urban Farm minutes from where she lived and began volunteering. After months of great work supporting the CUF compost hub, she joined the LA Compost team as a Compost Manager. She looks forward to spending her Saturday mornings among the food scraps and the new community LA Compost has given her. While the sifting station has always been her favorite part of composting, she enjoys seeing all the new faces that come to drop off.
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Gina is a native Angeleno, inspired and dedicated to healing our urban environments with meaningful earth work. She has worked with local landscape companies, urban farms, and various nonprofits to add beauty and purpose to urban spaces. Gina loves to compost and watch its transformation from beginning to end, as it reflects our own potential for change and renewal.
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Kelli found an early love for urban farming at her childhood home in Long Beach, helping her dad tend to the dozens of fruit trees he curated in their backyard as he passed down wisdom about how to grow food (mostly he'd say, "Sometimes things just die... Start again" lol). Her love for farming expanded into a love of mycology during her time pursuing an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Discovering LA Compost when she moved back to LA was a saving grace during lockdown and she's excited to work alongside such passionate environmentalists and urban farmers as she pursues a masters degree in environmental social work. You can find her in North East LA at our park and community hubs and processing at the Venice Learning Garden on the weekends. Supporting LA Compost's mission to build community connection while making the world quantifiably 'greener' is truly the best way she could imagine spending her time.
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Lynn Fang, MS is committed to creating integrated compost farm systems in urban areas, restoring compost as part of an ecologically sustainable and socially just farm ecosystem. She actively teaches, speaks, and consults on soil and compost ecology, and has worked with several different organizations, schools, botanical gardens, and other institutions. She weaves together her master’s work in compost microbiology with her experiences in permaculture, urban ecological farming, and community development.
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Enjoli comes to L.A. Compost with experience in collaborating with youth leaders, eco clubs, teachers and partnering organizations to host and co-host sustainability-driven events in Los Angeles County. Enjoli also has experience in curriculum and program development. As an ISA Certified Arborist Enjoli has had the opportunity to work towards expanding on “green geared” projects ideas such as native / climate appropriate, and edible garden installations, tree plantings, and outdoor classroom design. Enjoli’s professional and personal goal is to act as a foundation for awareness and action. Enjoli’s goals are tied to supporting community members in enhancing their life experiences.
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Erica Montelongo was born and raised in South Central LA. For the past 5 years, she has been involved in supporting community-based organizations. When she is not composting she is also an artist inspired by the compost piles she turns with volunteers. She enjoys using the compost pile to teach and inspire others. She is proud to create a resource that is beneficial to communities and the planet.
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Maggie was born and raised in New Jersey and began working in urban ecology at the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute and FEAST Garden at Occidental College. After college, they researched access to biodiversity education in K-12 schools, which led them to work with public gardens. They are passionate about access to community education around regenerative land management and stewardship.
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Mark’s knowledge of gardening and the importance of good soil management was instilled at an early age by his mother. Growing up he always had large gardens with vegetables and fruit trees. His interest in plants and the environment eventually lead him to obtain a BS in Environmental Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Finance and a MS in Marine Sciences The more Mark studies nature and the cycles of minerals and animals, the more he realizes that the practices he learned from his grandparents improve the quality and quantity of the food we grow.
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Michael is a certified Master Gardener, a former elementary school teacher, and the Founder and Executive Director of L.A Compost. Michael has over 8 years of experience building gardens and compost systems throughout the County of Los Angeles as well as other parts of the country. Michael has grown LA Compost from a group of volunteers collecting organics with bikes to a decentralized network of community compost hubs that span across the most populated county in the country.
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Noemi, born and raised in Boyle Heights, is the Compost Manager for the San Gabriel Valley. She takes great honor in being able to work with mother earth and the people that find meaning in taking care of the land together. When she is not working with a pitchfork and watering hose, she is managing her small business which allows her to travel and connect with indigenous artisans across Mexico. Working with LA Compost, she hopes that people of all walks of life adapt to the compost lifestyle as it is a form of wellness for the individual as well as the collective.
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Tanya was born and raised in San Bernardino, CA. She has a B.S in Industrial Engineering. Composting is important to her because she sees the intersectionality between people and environmental health in it. She is passionate about learning how to connect more with herself, her neighbors, and mother nature. She also enjoys getting morning sunlight, playing in the rain, and looking for natural swimming areas with friends.
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Paola was born and raised in Zapopan, México, and for the past five years has been involved in community engagement projects in different areas of LA County. She believes in the power of culture and the arts to strengthen meaningful community connections. In her free time, she enjoys spending time listening to music, gardening, and learning about botany, soil, and urban wildlife. She is thrilled to be part of the LA Compost team and hopes more communities and individuals get inspired to compost.
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Born and raised in downtown Manhattan, Sam's passion for nature and the environment was piqued when he spent the first semester of his junior year in high school at a wilderness training school in Leadville, CO. Since then he has had an eclectic career working in and around various ecological initiatives: doing fiscal impact analysis on proposed environmental legislation as an analyst at NYC's Mayor's Office of Management and Budget, managing The Lower East Side Ecology Center's electronic waste recycling & reuse facility in Gowanus, BK, and working as a hauler for lower Manhattan's pioneering bicycle-powered organics micro-hauling company Reclaimed Organics. A newcomer to LA and recent addition to the LA Compost team, he is thrilled to be working outside with such an incredible community of LA residents and LA Compost team members alike!
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Bio coming soon.
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Tamra is a dedicated urban community gardener located in Compton, passionate about cultivating green spaces and fostering community engagement.
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Elena was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, and considers herself a Tejana at heart. She became interested in food justice and policy as an Urban Environmental Policy student at Occidental College. Around the same time, Elena began eating a plant based diet and eventually became completely vegan. Elena’s professional pursuits have included administering EBT and Market Match at several LA Farmer’s Markets and coordinating volunteers and community programs at The L.A. Kitchen. She is passionate about creating a community around sustainable living and food.
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Stephanie is a nature lover. Her first taste of environmental advocacy started in high school after writing a research paper on the effects of electronic waste and the impact it has caused on our health. This research led her to join her environmental club, where she organized an electronic waste drive. They recycled over 100 pounds of e-waste in one morning. During her undergrad, she continued to integrate environmental awareness into her studies. As an undergrad, she served as the Policy & Advocacy Intern for the American Lung Association. Here she found her voice in the political space learning about the importance of voting on our local propositions. After undergrad, Stephanie served as an 8th-grade U.S. history educator with Teach for America. Leaving the classroom was a difficult decision but she was ready to pursue a career in the environmental field. Today you can find Stephanie organizing community events centered on sustainability, regenerative agriculture, upcycling, and women empowerment. When Stephanie isn’t helping to turn compost piles or co-leading the Soil Farmer Project, she is planning events with her non-profit Shift Our Ways Collective. Growing her skills and knowledge in the environmental field has been a blessing. She is grateful that LA Compost chose them as one of the first community hubs in the San Fernando Valley and looks forward to her continued growth within this space.
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Born and raised in South Central LA, Ana is passionate about environmental justice, access to green spaces, and sustainable food systems in black and brown neighborhoods like hers. During her time at Santa Monica College, she studied Environmental Studies and Recycling Resource Management. Honored to serve the community that raised her, she is excited to foster community in South LA, build partnerships, and work alongside the LA Compost staff and volunteers. You can find her at various green spaces and farmers markets in the greater South LA region collecting food scraps, turning compost piles, or taking photos of what she finds beautiful. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, connecting with nature, and exploring the city.
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Arefa comes to LA Compost with over 17 years of work experience in the non-profit sector ranging from immigrant rights, civil rights, housing justice, and community development. For the past 8 years she has focused specifically on fundraising work through campaign and event planning, grant support, donor engagement, solicitation, and consultation. She is excited to be joining the environmental sector, enhancing donor and corporate stewardship with LA Compost, and supporting the reduction of waste in Los Angeles. Arefa studied Mass Communications and History at UC Berkeley and has a Masters in Public Policy from American University. In her free time, she is creating memories with her three children and spouse, volunteering with the Scouts of America, and giving back to the community.
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Fernanda is a dedicated community organizer and educator advocating for green and sustainable spaces in the San Fernando Valley (SFV). From fostering connections between nature and neighborhoods to teaching sun-powered art techniques, Fernanda is always engaged in collective work across the SFV. They are honored and excited to continue their journey with LA Compost, deepening the relationship between the community and the land that shapes the valley. If they’re not turning compost piles at community hubs, you'll likely find them biking through the Valley, enjoying the native plants.
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Quinn was raised in the Upper Midwest and he soaked up the magic of nature whenever possible by climbing trees, building forts in the woods, and playing in creeks and lakes. He studied film and TV at Minnesota State University Moorhead and, after graduation, moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment; but he stayed for the sunshine, warm weather, and easy access to nature. He has since worked in education and brand development. Joining the LA Compost team has helped him feel a sense of connection and community with others who have a shared vision for a greener Earth. Quinn still relishes the magic of nature through hiking, practicing yoga, and visiting local parks.
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Ashleigh Dawson started her environmental advocacy work while pursuing her fashion internships in Los Angeles, California. Ashleigh started learning about overproduction and the broken linear economy we have today. At 18 and with a vision, she created Recycle2Riches.org! Her main goal with this non-profit is to transform the culture of consumption on a global scale. As the President of R2R, she believes that the world needs to work towards a circular economy along with a closed-loop lifestyle. She is also the curator of the Earth Day Summit; an annual one-day climate action event that makes Earth Day Every Day for all involved. Ash is inspired by the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals; focusing on circularity and becoming a leader in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance). She is currently a California Climate Action Corps fellow for the 23-24 semester and was assigned to LA Compost.
The Board
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Robbie Martin is a strategic partnerships and fundraising expert with a decade of philanthropic leadership experience. He is the founder of The RAM3 Project, a social impact consulting practice that specializes in harnessing the power of nonprofits to expand their development and corporate partnership programs. Robbie became passionate about food waste recovery and composting during his time in Pepperdine University's Masters in Social Entrepreneurship and Change program. In his free time, Robbie enjoys hiking, road trips, and supporting the performing arts.
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Sarah Delevan is a financial consultant, podcast host, and “good food” advocate with over 15 years experience building and supporting regional and sustainable food systems.
As the Founder and CEO of Sarah Delevan Consulting, and The Good Food CFO, Sarah’s work over the last 10 years has focused on supporting mission-driven food businesses, farmers, ranchers and fishers in achieving profitability and financial sustainability to secure their much needed place within our food system. She is also committed to educating consumers and lawmakers about the way that food business is done within the industry at large, and fighting for meaningful change. In her free time, Sarah enjoys road trips, golfing, watching college football and reading.
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Shannon Wright is an attorney and the Director of Compliance at Inspire Clean Energy. Shannon has nearly a decade of experience working in Legal Compliance in the nonprofit and mission-driven sector. Her professional goals have centered around improving education and fighting the climate crisis. In her free time Shannon loves spending time with her dog Frida, cooking and learning to bake.
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Charlie Southward, a US Air Force veteran from Riverside, California, founded In God’s Hands Garden (IGH) in 2014 while living at the Bell shelter, initially as a volunteer. Over eight years, IGH evolved into a vital source of organic produce for homeless communities. Now located in Long Beach, IGH focuses on serving women's and children's shelters, aiming to address their dietary needs and cultural preferences. As a board member of LA Compost, Charlie shares his gardening expertise to promote environmental sustainability. In 2023, he looks forward to expanding IGH's impact at the Growing Experience in Long Beach, where fertile soil promises abundant growth.
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Michelle Barton brings over 10 years of environmental leadership to the City of Los Angeles. A seasoned advocate for nature-based solutions, Michelle played a pivotal role in developing the groundbreaking “LA Biodiversity Index Baseline Report” and the “LA Biodiversity Guidelines,” showcasing her commitment to biodiversity conservation. Michelle has elevated the City’s biodiversity work via global venues, like Biodiversity COP-15, and has shared biodiversity best practices with cities and organizations across the world. Throughout her career, Michelle has championed common sense sustainability and climate initiatives, like equitable growth of the urban forest, that make Los Angeles greener and more livable for all. As a collaborative force, she engages stakeholders and experts on policies and programs, like the “Healthy Soils Strategy for the City of Los Angeles” to create a more sustainable, resilient Los Angeles.