1. It supports your community: Composting with CERO keeps food scraps out of the landfill and puts them back into the local food system. Your scraps help nearby farms grow fresh produce and raise healthy animals—strengthening the local economy and feeding our communities.

2. To help build a sustainable future: Massachusetts generates enough food waste each year to fill 20 Fenway Parks. Composting helps cut down on landfill use, reduces harmful methane emissions, and returns nutrients to the soil. It’s a simple way to fight climate change and build a more sustainable food system.

3. Compliance with Local regulations:  Since late 2022, Massachusetts has required businesses that generate more than half a ton of food waste per week to separate it from the trash. Composting helps your business stay compliant and supports statewide waste reduction goals.

4. You could save money: By reducing the amount of trash your business produces, composting can help lower your hauling costs. Less trash means fewer pickups and more savings.

1. Reliable, clean service: We show up on time, treat our customers with care, and clean compost barrels after every pickup to prevent smells and pests. Our goal is to make composting easy and hassle-free for your business.
2. Worker-owned and community-focused: We are a worker-owned cooperative and a certified minority- and woman-owned business. We're committed to creating good living wage jobs, especially for people in communities that have been excluded from opportunity.
3. Keeping it local: Unlike other haulers that send food scraps far away, we partner with nearby family farms. Your compost stays in the local food system, helping grow fresh produce or feed animals on local farms..
   Using data to make a difference: We track the details. Our data tools help you understand your waste, reduce it over time, and find ways to cut costs while hitting your sustainability goals.
4. Serious about sustainability: From day one, CERO has been focused on keeping food waste out of landfills and building a more circular economy. When you work with us, you’re part of a system that turns waste into something useful.

All the food scraps we collect stay local. We bring them to nearby family-owned farms, where they’re either used as animal feed or turned into compost to enrich soil. Our goal is to return nutrients to the land and keep them in the local food system—building a truly circular economy that supports farmers, reduces waste, and strengthens our community.

It’s pretty simple—most food scraps and soiled paper can go in. This includes fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, eggshells, eggs, and dairy products. You can also add cooked or raw meat, bones, and fats. Paper towels, napkins, and other soiled paper products are welcome, too.

To keep the compost clean and safe for local farms, please don’t put in any plastic, glass, or metal. Avoid items labeled “compostable” unless they’re certified compostable; many products won’t break down properly unless they meet certain standards. We’re happy to advise on specific items, but in general, look for products that are BPI or OK Compost certified. Also, please don’t add yard waste, cleaning products, or anything with chemicals.

We currently service businesses across Metro Boston and the surrounding areas. If you’re unsure whether we cover your specific location, please don’t hesitate to reach out at support@cero.coop. We’ll be happy to check for you.

Right now, we’re focused on commercial compost pickup. While we don’t currently offer residential service, we’re actively working on plans to launch it soon. If you’re a homeowner interested in composting, keep an eye out; we hope to expand to residential areas in the near future.

We serve a wide range of commercial clients, including universities, schools, corporate campuses, restaurants, cafes, and hospitals. If your business generates food waste, there’s a good chance we can help.

Absolutely. While the state requires composting for businesses generating over half a ton of food waste per week, we welcome businesses of all sizes. Every bit diverted from landfills makes a difference.

We understand that some businesses like seasonal restaurants or event venues have fluctuating waste volumes. We’re flexible. We’ll work with you to design a custom service schedule that adapts to your needs, whether that means adjusting pickups during busy seasons or offering on-call service when needed.