You could call it their crowning glory. Alumni Kris Steele ‘08, ‘12 and Eric Theys ‘13, along with partners David Valder and Marcus Carson, are at the helm of Charlotte’s successful Crown Town Compost and Crown Town Landscapes. The mission is simple: reduce food waste and improve the environment through composting. Now after eight years, business has blossomed throughout the city; they’ve recently opened a hub at the Innovation Barn and the team now has a farm in the works.
SEED OF AN IDEA
Born from the desire to improve sustainability in Charlotte, Crown Town Compost launched in 2015 with a bold vision and two wheels – in their spare time. All of the partners had full time jobs in other industries, but were passionate about conservation and bettering the city. The goal was to collect food waste from across Charlotte and transform it into nutrient-dense soil and fertilizer delivered to customers twice a year. Their vehicle? None other than the trusty bicycle.
Starting with only a few households, the team slowly grew its business through frequent visits to local farmers markets and going door to door, starting in the Wilmore Neighborhood. As word spread, more residents signed on. They quickly outgrew their bike routes and started using personal cars before being awarded a pickup truck through a state grant.
What started as a passion project is now a flourishing enterprise with hundreds of customers, the only of its kind in Charlotte. Restaurateurs Jamie Brown and Jeff Tonidandel, owners of the popular Ever Andalo (then Crepe Cellar), Reigning Donuts, Haberdish and Supperland, became the first commercial clients. Now the business list includes early adopters Miracle and James Yoder of Not Just Coffee and Night Swim, Pasta and Provisions, Jeni’s Ice Cream, Summit Coffee and many more.
TABLE SCRAPS
You’ve probably seen their black bins around town — or in your neighborhood. Smaller than a regular trash bin with the signature crown on the sides, they are made specifically for food waste and are transforming Charlotte’s environmental impact one bin at a time.
Crown Town Compost estimates Mecklenburg County’s food waste to be around 200,000 tons per year, going straight to the landfill. Composting helps to combat emissions from landfills, promotes carbon sequestration, rebuilds healthy soils, supports healthy food systems and promotes the circular economy. In short: a small lifestyle change and a big impact.
Did you know we send approximately 200,00 tons of food waste and other compostable materials to the landfill in Mecklenburg County each year?
That amount of food waste would fill Bank of America’s main tower in Uptown Charlotte. It’s also enough to cover I-77 in 2 feet of food waste from Charlotte to Mooresville.
Customers can sign up for a personal membership to service their houses or apartments, including a drop-off option directly to Crown Town Compost. Businesses can sign up for a membership to help meet organizational zero waste goals for offices, restaurants, coffee shops, food halls, college campuses and more.
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS
While business was booming and people saw value in receiving the soil, they weren’t exactly sure how to use it. Thus, sister company Crown Town Landscapes was launched. Co-owner Theys grew up playing in the dirt and has a passion for the growth side of the composting cycle. His desire is to use the natural environment —instead of harmful chemicals — to cultivate beautiful and beneficial yards.
“Compost isn’t sexy but everybody likes a beautiful yard,” said Theys.
Now with an all-electric fleet, Crown Town Landscapes offers design, complete lawn maintenance and installation that isn’t only energy efficient and environmentally conscious, it’s also quieter than traditional yard management. Say goodbye to ear-buzzing mowers and blowers. They’re turning over traditional lawns with clover and no-mow grass, and native plants that are beneficial for the birds and the local environment.
From analyzing the soil to maintaining vegetable and flower beds, the team are experts in transforming lawns into a low-maintenance, drought resistant and environmentally beneficial oasis. Currently, they are maintaining 94 yards and have just under 100 full transformations scheduled for this year. Servicing both households and corporate landscapes, customers can schedule a consultation to start the process.
MILKMEN OF THE NEW CENTURY
Inspired by the personal touch of yesteryear, Steele and Theys see Crown Town as the milkmen of the new century, picking up food waste and returning valuable fertilizer. But the ultimate goal is to help Charlotte to become a leader in sustainability. It’s that ambition that landed them a spot at the Innovation Barn just outside Uptown in the Belmont neighborhood. Created by the City of Charlotte, the unique space supports local businesses aligned with helping create a circular economy and eliminating the city’s waste by 2050.
While Steele and Theys can share plenty of jarring statistics about environmental factors and effects of climate change, they’re much more focused on positively moving the needle.
“We are not doom and gloom, we are just trying to educate people and start simple solutions so that people can take small steps in their own lives.”
With an incredibly passionate team of ten between the two companies, Crown Town Compost and Landscapes are taking strides to give the Charlotte community opportunities to make an impact.
The next step for the team is out at their farm in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina. The vision is a working demonstration space for native plant species the public can visit for education and inspiration. With their passion for ecology and dedication to improving the environment, Steele and Theys understand well that what you plant now, you harvest later.