A San Francisco Start

Back in 2002, San Francisco began giving away green bins for free food waste collection. Composting became mandatory in 2009 for all city residents. But the process of collecting and storing food scraps for weekly pickup was messy for some. Many well-intending residents collected their food scraps in plastic bags, which defeats the whole purpose. Others opted for backyard compost piles, tumblers, and worms, but those require constant maintenance and care. "There's got to be a better way!" thought Russ Cohn. The MIT-trained engineer and garage tinkerer vowed to build a better composter.

A Chance Discovery

Then a funny thing happened. Russ went on vacation without emptying the kitchen compost crock. A nasty surprise awaited his return — the smell, the flies, and a very unpleasant clean-up job.

While grudgingly cleaning the compost crock, he noticed it was warm. Microorganisms were hard at work! The compost process had already begun. Just a little more oxygen, some mixing, insulation, and a powerful air filter would accelerate the process and eliminate the odors. Dozens of prototypes and patents later, the NatureMill was born.

We're up to great things. Just watch us. Someday everyone in the world will compost, and what a difference that will make.

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