Joshua and Olivia Flynn founded Maine Compost Co LLC to tackle a growing problem in their community: food waste. Based in Lewiston, the business offers convenient compost pickup services to residential and commercial customers across Androscoggin County. With scheduled weekly or biweekly pickups, the Flynns aim to make composting easy and impactful for local households and businesses.
Their inspiration stemmed from a noticeable gap in waste diversion services in the area. Motivated by a desire to reduce landfill contributions and promote sustainable habits, they built a curbside composting company designed specifically for Maine communities. With Josh’s technical knowledge, honed at the Maine Compost School, and Olivia’s background in community work and local initiatives, they launched a service that is both locally rooted and forward-thinking.
But as a two-person team, they quickly found themselves managing every aspect of the business, from customer service and logistics to marketing and growth planning. Staying mission-driven while juggling day-to-day demands became their biggest challenge.
Early in their journey, they turned to the Maine SBDC for guidance. Josh sought help navigating the startup process and connected with Business Advisor Jon Janson, who assisted with entity formation, permits, and revenue projections. “Jon Janson offers invaluable guidance, encourages our growth, and consistently helps us find new ways to expand Maine Compost Co,” Josh shared. “We couldn’t ask for a better advisor throughout this journey.”
With Jon’s continued support, the Flynns successfully launched in April. Within a month, Josh was able to leave his full-time job to focus on the business. They saw strong demand at their first farmers’ market appearance, where they ran out of compost buckets to distribute. Since then, Maine Compost Co has continued to build momentum and has become a staple at the Lewiston Farmers’ Market, growing its subscriber base and raising awareness about food waste in local communities.
Looking ahead, the Flynns hope to build a community where composting becomes second nature for households and businesses alike, and where reducing food waste is simply part of daily life. They aim to expand access to sustainable composting services, inspire environmental responsibility, and position Maine as a model for how local action can drive real change.
Reflecting on their journey, Josh credits the Maine SBDC for helping them grow with intention and confidence. “The SBDC’s knowledge, experience, and local connections made it the perfect partner to help us take Maine Compost Co to the next level,” he said. “Jon has given us opportunities we wouldn’t have had without his guidance.”