Pine Tree Circle owner Nathan Daneshgar held a small ceremony to open the shopping center’s new onsite composting facility, which will convert the food waste generated by the center’s tenants into nutrient rich compost and keep it out of the landfill.
Organic waste is the largest waste stream in California and the state is moving toward mandatory food waste collection and hauling for commercial establishments. Pine Tree Circle management made the smart choice to forego the expense of hauling and compost on site—from the used coffee grounds from Waterlily Cafe to the food prep kitchen scraps accumulated at the Canyon Bistro.
Daneshgar worked with Cecilie Stuart of Full Circle Compost to design the new facility. The bin was built by Delmar Lathers and will be maintained by Hayley Magrini, the owner of The Well Refill. It’s a community-based, homegrown solution to an important waste disposal issue.
“This is a collaborative effort” says Daneshgar, “between Full Circle Compost, The Well, and Pine Tree Circle. We (the ownership) are purchasing the compost bin from Full Circle, plus composting equipment. Full Circle will install the compost bin and provide training to Pine Tree Circle businesses, and The Well will be servicing it.”
