This month, we’re proud to spotlight Community Compost Company, a Hudson Valley–based, women-owned business dedicated to tackling food waste, improving soil health, and building more sustainable communities.
Founded in 2013 by Eileen Banyra, the company was born out of her 30+ years as a city and environmental land use planner, where she saw firsthand the impact of food and organic waste in the landfill system—and the opportunity to turn that waste into a resource. With no existing collection services in the region at the time, Eileen built a solution from the ground up.
What started with a few farmers market drop-off locations, a small team, and a donated pickup truck has grown into a full-scale collection and compost processing operation. Today, Community Compost Company operates multiple collection trucks, heavy equipment, and a processing facility serving communities across the Hudson Valley and northern New Jersey.
Through collection services, community drop-off programs, and educational outreach, the company helps residents, businesses, and institutions divert food scraps from landfills and turn them into nutrient-rich compost. By partnering with local farms and composting facilities, they’re supporting healthier soil, stronger local agriculture, and a more sustainable future. You can learn more about their services, plans, and pricing here.
Community Compost Company has been insured by Ryan & Ryan Insurance Brokers since January 2024. When asked why they chose Ryan & Ryan as their insurance partner, Eileen shared:
“When we first started, no one really understood how to insure a business like ours—we were the first company of our type in NY and NJ. We took whatever company would insure us, and they didn’t actually understand our operation.”
She went on to add:
“A couple of years ago I got a handwritten note from Bob Ryan telling me he was a composter and was impressed with what the company was doing. I liked that personal touch and that was it! We dropped the old company and started working with Ryan and Ryan. Their team took the time to understand what we do, rewrote our policies, and even helped us save money. We couldn’t be happier with the service we receive.”
As Community Compost Company continues to grow, they’ve expanded beyond collection services to offer products like compost, worm castings, and compost extracts—and even opened a self-serve farm stand at their Kerhonkson location.
At Ryan & Ryan, we’re proud to support innovative, community-driven businesses like Community Compost Company and look forward to their continued impact for years to come. If you’re ready to start composting, or want to learn more, you can find a wealth of information over at www.communitycompostco.com!
