MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — One Forsyth woman started a business that turns composted items into soil, and now she says she'll deliver it right to your front door.
Candace Neller-Harper grew up in Rayle, Georgia, a rural town where she developed an appreciation for the environment.
"I grew up around farming and stuff like that, and I have been composting for years, and I know people are really frustrated with the lack of recycling infrastructure in Bibb County, so this was kind of my solution to that," she said.
She started her business called Secondhand Soil back in October to collect people's compost and turn it into soil.
"You would be amazed at what you can avoid putting in a landfill. We take cardboard, we take junk mail, any food scraps really -- banana peels, apple cores, egg shells, coffee grounds," Harper said.
She places bins on her customers porches. Every Tuesday and Friday, she empties the compost and starts the soil process in her backyard.
"I put every piece of cardboard and paper through a shredder, and then I put all the food scraps through a garbage disposal," she said.
For every 30 pounds of compost she collects from a customer, she gives back 10 pounds of soil in return.
"Could you imagine if half of your trash got turned into soil instead of just sitting in the landfill? When organic matter goes into the landfill, stuff gets piled on top of it, and then it's not getting oxygen, so it can't decompose," she said.
She has 13 customers now, but hopes the business will bloom.
"It's not about money. It's about helping the environment. I don't sell the compost. I donate it, and I give it back to the customers," she said.
Harper offers services to people in Monroe, Bibb, and Houston Counties.
It takes about a month for the compost to turn into soil.
Prices range from $15 to $30 per bin, depending on its size and weekly or bi-weekly pick up.
If you don't need soil, you can sign up to have it donated to one of their garden partners listed on the business' website.
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