Meet Corey & Amber McCool | Composters & Community Builders

We had the good fortune of connecting with Corey & Amber McCool and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Corey & Amber, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Colorado is lagging behind much of the country in organic waste management. While there are several state-sponsored programs that are combating this issue, several factors remain that restrict entry into the industry. These include land requirements, heavy equipment requirements, and a number of permitting and environmental hurdles, among others. As a result, the majority of new entrants into the organics waste management space operate as haulers, collecting waste from one place and transporting it to a large processor, which in some cases can be an hour’s drive away or more. We decided to try a different approach, focusing our efforts on designing a system that allows us to process 30+ tons (and growing) of food scraps annually, using the least amount of space, equipment, and labor possible. We’ve been thrilled at the results and at our community’s response!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
We are Air Force veterans that were looking for a new mission. We found it when we realized how much compostable waste was (and still is) going to the local landfills, releasing methane into the atmosphere INSTEAD of enriching our local soils.

Our mission is to find a way to bring a convenient composting option to places in Colorado where none exists today. A large portion of the state remains completely unserved, while other areas transport their waste several hours away to the nearest processor. By developing small solutions with the potential to grow into larger solutions, we’re doing our part to confront the problem at its source with immediate action.

We also work to increase the number of DIY composters through home compost bin sales, installation, and support.

For those that prefer a collection service, we offer 8 different drop-off locations (and counting) between Bailey, Conifer, and Evergreen (and expanding), allowing for customers to drop off their Purple Bucket full of food scraps in exchange for a clean, empty bucket. For commercial customers we offer customized solutions and onsite collection.

Since opening in February of 2021, we have collected and processed in excess of 33 TONS of organic waste, while also providing several local parks and gardens with free compost. We are excited to launch composting pilot programs in local elementary schools as part of a collaboration with local PTA groups, as well as the non-profit group The Green Team Superheroes.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In Bailey, get started with coffee at The Giggling Goat, before visiting the Sasquatch Outpost and Treehouse Adventure Park. Finish the day with dinner at the Oliver’s Riverbend Bistro. In Conifer, the Kings Emporium & Mercantile offers a unique blend of antiques, art, and locally made products. Don’t miss Beaver Ranch Park where visitors can hike, bike, and ride a horse, OR they can check out 2 world-class adventures; Colorado’s fastest and longest zip lines OR one of the nations top ranked disc golf courses all in one location. In Evergreen, drop by the Kittredge General Store or the Marshdale General Store for excellent grab & go burritos, sandwiches, pizza, and more. Then head over to Evergreen Lake for watersports, hiking, and beautiful scenery including frequent elk sightings. Lastly, in September, head down US285 past Bailey for several opportunities to see the changing leaves.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We have so much gratitude for all of our community partners! We’ve made partnering with local businesses, non-profits, and schools a top priority, and they’ve made our success possible. Some of these organizations are commercial customers who offer discounts to our residential customers, others host drop-off locations, and all help spread the word. Thank you to all of the following organizations, and to everyone else that has supported us on this composting mission!

Green Team Superheroes
Bailey Depot Feed
Kings Emporium & Mercantile
The Giggling Goat
Mountain Resource Center
Daddy’s Homemade Syrup
Aspen Park Vet Hospital
Evergreen Christian Outreach
Castles & Kitchens
Kittredge General Store
Marshdale General Store
Riverbend Eatery
ConexSmart
The Chill Squirrel
Mudslingers Coffee

Website: www.PurpleBucketCompost.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purplebucketcompost/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PurpleBucketCompost/