LA Compost

LA Compost is a community compost non-profit in Los Angeles connecting soil and people. In 2020, Fera Zero developed and white labelled an app for LA Compost to measure, track and reward food waste diverted by residents. The app’s value prop is simple: it provides both LA Compost and participating residents with personalized data on the positive impact of composting. We found that creating a positive feedback loop with impact data creates a virtuous cycle of engagement. People shared their impact with friends, and more people started composting. Calculating and celebrating the impact of a decision to create compost, not garbage, is a game-changer for empowering community compost efforts and increasing participation. Furthermore, demonstrating the value of compost to stakeholders such as foundations and policy makers has made the evidence of compost’s importance clear, as well as the demand for it, and helped remove barriers to funding and development.