Ethan Wajer is trying to save the world, one bucket of food scraps at a time.
Wajer, of Newcastle, is the founder of Project Earth, a food-scrap collection company. Through Project Earth, Wajer aims to lower the amount of food scraps residents of Lincoln County throw away.
“About 40 percent of what is in our garbage cans is food scraps,” Wajer said. “If we can cut that out, we can have a huge positive impact on the area.”
Project Earth has its roots in Wajer’s landscaping and stonework business. After attending Curry College in Massachusetts, Wajer returned to Lincoln County with the intention to stay only a few months while he figured out his future plans.
“I knew I wanted to start my own business, because it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while,” Wajer said. “I’ve worked for four different landscaping companies since I was 14, and I realized it was something I could do and do well.”
Wajer said he became aware of the need for a food-scrap collection company after being approached by a member of the community while on a landscaping job. He quickly realized the potential benefits of launching the effort at a county-wide level.
“I try to do my part to be sustainable, and my family recycles everything we can,” Wajer said. “This is something that needs to happen regardless, whether it’s me doing it or someone else.”
Wajer worked out his business plan for two months before presenting his idea to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners in May. He was met with immediate approval.
“They told me once I got my business cards to bring them by so they could hand them out,” Wajer said. “I think they realized this could be something great for the community.”
On July 3, Project Earth officially opened for business.
Wajer provided each customer with a 5-gallon bucket and a 40-pound bag of compost. Each Friday, Wajer collects and delivers the food scraps to Lincoln County Recycling in Wiscasset, where it is turned into compost. From April to October, he also delivers fresh compost to his customers each week.
“Sometimes when people are composting by themselves, it can take years to get good compost back, and that’s only if they’re doing everything correctly,” Wajer said. “If they sign up for Project Earth, they’re getting fresh compost back every week for seven months out of the year.”
For individuals and families that require only a 5-gallon bucket, the cost is $4 a week. Wajer said the cost for businesses is worked out based on how often the food scraps will need to be picked up during the week.
“This isn’t something I’m making a ton of money doing,” Wajer said. “I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do.”
Rising Tide, in Damariscotta, has helped Wajer grow his business by allowing him to advertise outside the building. Although some people he talks to immediately understand the concept of what he is doing, others need a little more explanation.
“Usually when I’m telling people about what I do, they ask if they need to deliver the food scraps to me, and they don’t,” Wajer said. “Our motto is ‘We do the work for you.’ All customers have to do is put their food scraps in a different container.”
Through his advertising efforts and word of mouth, Wajer has managed to grow Project Earth to more than 50 customers across Lincoln County in three months, including individuals and local businesses.
“I’m really happy with where I’m at right now,” Wajer said. “I have a good base of customers, but I’m working on filling in the gaps.”
In addition to approaching more businesses and area schools, Wajer hopes to visit classrooms to teach students the importance of composting and the proper way to make compost.
Although the job can be a little messy at times, Wajer said the compost that has been created is worth it.
“My aunt has told me that her zucchini plant has been completely transformed two weeks after she started using the compost,” Wajer said. “I’ve used it in my landscaping jobs too, so I’m my own customer.”
Wajer hopes to make Planet Earth his main focus in the future and see the business expand beyond Lincoln County. In the meantime, he is happy to provide a service to the community he grew up in.
“I have a great group of people here supporting me,” Wajer said. “Seeing people excited about something that I’m doing just makes me happy.”
