EVENT COMPOSTING IN ST. LOUIS
Weddings, festivals, fundraisers, corporate events—we make your event zero-waste ready and haul it all away when the night ends. You get the green story and the guest compliments; your food waste becomes part of St. Louis gardens as compost instead of landfill!
We loved being able to reduce the footprint of our wedding reception and it was easy to arrange things with John ahead of time to make our day incredibly simple. I received so much positive feedback from our guests. Not to mention my husband and I were actually able to enjoy our event without worrying about clean up. I would recommend New Earth Farm to all my friends and I cannot imagine our reception without them!
— Nate & Sarah, wedding reception
Events we compost
Weddings & receptions: The original green wedding move—and one guests will actually notice! We coordinate with your caterer and venue ahead of time so you don’t have to. Not using “real” silverware and dishes? We can provide compostable serviceware that will actually get composted.
Festivals & community events: Multi-day, high-volume, public-facing. Or just a small neighborhood block party. We've serviced everything from a backyard wedding with few than fifty guests up to major venue events at The Dome at America's Center. Bins, clear signage, and scheduled bin pick-ups to fit to your crowd.
Corporate events & fundraisers: Make your sustainability commitment visible. Diversion numbers provided afterward for your next company newsletter or your stage announcement ("together we kept X,XXX pounds out of the landfill tonight!"). Hosting a trivia night? We can take all the food waste, and will even donate a gift pack prize for your good cause!
Seasonal collections: Pumpkin collections after Halloween, holiday event cleanups, and community collection days—ask about hosting or co-hosting one in your neighborhood.
What's included
The right bins, delivered and picked up, sized and placed for your venue and guest count
Clear sorting signage so guests get it right without thinking
Composting AND recycling collection (we can take cans and glass, if required, in addition to food waste).
Caterer & venue coordination before the event, so nothing’s a surprise
Post-event hauling—we take it all when it's over; you go home
Diversion report—pounds composted and recycled—great for social posts, sponsors, and ESG reporting
Optional sorting staff for larger events where real eyes on bins helps keep contamination near zero
Event FAQ
How much does event composting cost? It depends on guest count, duration, and whether you want sorting staff. Most single-evening private events are surprisingly affordable, and we'll quote you a flat number up front. Tell us your date, location, and headcount, and we’ll get a price quote to you quickly!
How far in advance should we book? Two to four weeks is comfortable for private events; large festivals should reach out 1–2 months ahead. Short notice? Ask anyway—if we can get bins to you in time, we’ll make it work!
Do you serve indoor AND outdoor events? Yes! If your indoor (or outdoor) venue has any concerns or questions, send them our way!
What can guests compost? All food scraps—plates can be scraped as long as silverware is removed. We take meat, dairy, bones, all food, even cake (although we really suggest the cake be consumed!) Use certified compostable dinnerware (plates, cups, flatware) and nearly the whole table goes in one bin, which makes guest sorting super easy. Check out our compost guide here.
What compostable products should we buy? We only accept BPI certified products. Many products marketed as "eco-friendly" or "biodegradable" don't actually break down and count as contamination. Ask us before you order; we'll point you to specific products we accept. Or, we can order them for you. We supply certified compostable bags for the bins ourselves.
Do you handle recycling too? Yes. We offer both composting and recycling collection for events.
Do you serve venues outside St. Louis city? We serve the whole metro area, Missouri and Metro East Illinois. If your venue is somewhere unusual or a bit farther out, just ask—glad to see if we can help!
What happens to the food waste afterward? It's composted at our own site here in St. Louis. If you'd like, come get a tour prior to your event! Some couples even gift small bags of "wedding compost" the following spring. (Yes, really. It's a hit!)
Ready to green your event?
Click below to give us your date, venue, and guest count and we’ll get you a quote, usually within one business day.
Short notice or just prefer to talk it through? Call 314-329-7301.