Jennifer Mastalerz left a career in architecture in 2010 to join a start up compost company doing organics collections. She shortly after begin a community drop off program in her neighborhood and eventually incorporated bicycle collections for local busisnesses.

Jennifer joined Bennett Compost in 2016, bringing the bike collection model with her. Bennett Compost now services approximately 6,000 households with weekly organics collections, 1/4 of them done via bicycle. It also employees 4 full time bike collectors.

Jennifer currently spends her time at Bennett Compost managing growth opportunities and partnerships.

Session Code: 1E

Track: Advocacy/Policy

Session Name: Permitting-Experiences Around the States

Session Time: Wednesday, February 7, 8:15 – 9:45 AM

Presentation Title: Pennsylvania’s New Urban Composting Permit

Presentation Description: Bennett Compost has grown steadily since it began in 2009 but the lack of a permit for processing compost in an urban environment was always a barrier. We have partnered with Philly Parks & Rec to develop the first small-scale composting permit in PA and to design, develop and build the first urban composting facility in PA. A unique barter contract has been created where Bennett Compost has the use of a Parks and Rec owned, former maintenance facility in exchange for 75 CY of finished compost donated to city gardens annually and collection of food scraps from the city’s rec centers.