Asheville, NC – A new local composting service is beginning a soft launch in Asheville this spring, aiming to make composting easier, more affordable, and more accessible for residents and businesses alike. Happy Scraps Composting, founded by Asheville local Ryan Thomas, is a community-driven compost pickup service designed to remove the hassle of composting while keeping food waste out of landfills.
A Local Solution to a Growing Problem
Asheville has long been known for its environmental consciousness, yet many residents still struggle with composting due to inconvenient municipal drop-off locations, expensive private services, or simply not knowing where to start. Happy Scraps Composting was created to fill this gap, offering affordable, scheduled compost pickup directly from homes and businesses across Asheville.
“I started Happy Scraps because I saw how frustrating and inaccessible composting could be,” said Ryan Thomas, founder and sole operator of the service. “The city’s free composting drop-offs are often full and inconvenient, and the private options available are priced too high for many households. I knew there had to be a better way—so I built one.”
How It Works
Happy Scraps Composting provides scheduled pickups for household and business compost. Customers receive a five-gallon bucket with a secure screw-top lid and compostable liner bag—the largest and most odor-resistant setup available to Asheville residents—and fill it with accepted compostable materials before leaving it out for collection on their scheduled pickup day. The collected waste is processed locally, ensuring minimal emissions from transport.
Right now, Happy Scraps accepts fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, shellfish, dairy, coffee grounds, eggshells, grains, plant-based food scraps, yard trimmings. A full guide to what’s compostable is available here. Happy Scraps Compostables Guide
Meet the Founder
Ryan Thomas, a proud West Asheville resident, has had a diverse and adventurous career—from working as an Outward Bound guide in the Appalachian region to building ice castles in New Hampshire and working as a deckhand on an Alaskan salmon fishing vessel. His passion for composting began when he was responsible for managing a resort’s kitchen scraps and indoor composting system in New Hampshire, where he saw firsthand how waste could be transformed into nutrient-rich soil.
Now, with Happy Scraps Composting, he hopes to make composting a normal part of daily life in Asheville, just like recycling.
What’s Next
Happy Scraps Composting’s full launch is set for May 8, 2025.
In addition to residential and business pickup services, Happy Scraps will begin offering Home Compost Check-Up visits—personalized at-home consultations where Ryan will assess compost systems, test for temperature, moisture, pH, and NPK levels, provide minor maintenance, and deliver a detailed report with customized care recommendations.
How to Get Started
For the soft launch, a small group of residents has been selected for bi-weekly pickups for one 5 gallon bin will be served as a trial so Happy Scraps can take feedback and hone the product.
Pickup service and At-Home Compost Checkups will be made fully available for the public to book starting on May 8, 2025. Happy Scraps will also receive inquiries from businesses and events interested in composting their waste starting at that time.
For more information, pricing, or to sign up, visit happyscrapscomposting.com or text (828) 484-6944.