Residential Composting FAQs

Moonshot Compost

What are Moonshot Compost’s opening hours?

The Moonshot office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Can I try out your service without signing up for a long-term plan?

We currently do not have a trial option, but all our plans are on a monthly basis and can be canceled at any time.

Composting

What type of composting services do you provide?

Pickup (we come to you) and drop-off (you come to us).

What can I put in my compost bin?

Fruit, veggies, grains, and more are all copacetic for both residential home pickup and home drop-off. For residential home pickup, we can also accept all your proteins: meat, poultry, seafood, and all them bones! See the full list of compostables here.

Containers

What bins do you provide?

We offer airtight, 4-gallon buckets for holding and transporting food waste. We also offer ventilated kitchen caddies. Both of these containers are free when you sign up.

Do you provide bags for the bins?

Yes! We provide compostable bags as part of our service fee, which is a huge value!

Can I use my own bins?

We kindly ask that you use the containers we provide you for the bin exchange. For our residential drop-off service, you can use your own bins.

Can I use my own compostable bags?

Yes. We accept bags that are certified compostable by Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA), Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), or TUV. These can be purchased at Target, Whole Foods, Ace Hardware, Amazon, and elsewhere and include brands such as Biobags (the brand Moonshot uses), Aneco, Bag to Nature, Eco Wave, UNNI, and Natur-Bag.

Should I keep my bin inside or outside?

You can keep your bin either inside or outside, although having it inside is usually more convenient. Common spots to keep it include under the kitchen sink, in the pantry, or in the garage (unless you’re in an apartment). Keeping your bin on a porch or balcony works, too, and may be the way to go if space in your kitchen is tight.

Pickup service

What communities does Moonshot Compost serve?

We cover a large number of Houston zip codes and our service area is always growing! When you begin the signup process, you’ll see if your zip code is in our service area. If we don’t currently pick up in your zip code, please complete our form to be added to the waiting list.

How many bins will I need?

If you live alone and don’t eat at home much, one 4-gallon bin may be adequate for you. The more people in your house, the higher the likelihood of needing additional bins. You can always upgrade to the premium plan to get up to four 4-gallon bins, if necessary.

What if I need additional bins?

We offer two service packages for our residential pickup service: the first for up to two buckets, and the second for up to four buckets. You can sign up for either and modify your membership as necessary. If you have one bin and want two, or three bins and want four, just reach out to us and we’ll leave another at your next pickup!

Is there a weight limit for my bin?

No–if it fits in the bin, it’s good to go!

How often do you collect my compost?
We collect once per week. That said, we make it easy for you to skip by replying to your weekly reminder text. We refund you $5 for each collection you skip.
What time of day do you collect my compost?

We start collecting at 8:00 a.m. and will typically finish our collecting before 3 p.m.

When will the collection day be?

We assign our subscribers a pickup day based on their location relative to other subscribers, but you may change your pickup day inside your account manager.

Can I skip a collection?

Yes! In fact, we prompt you on your weekly texts to let us know if you want a skip. And we refund you $5 every time you skip. You are ultimately in control of how often we come to your home.

What if my bin isn’t full? Should I still leave it out?

Your experience can be your guide. We recommend putting whatever you have out for your weekly collection. That’s the best way we know to keep it clean and easy! If you think your bin can wait a week, you can skip a collection and earn a $5 refund by replying to your weekly reminder text.

When should I leave my bins out for collection?

To make sure you don’t miss us, have your bin out by 8 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day.

Where should I leave my bin?

When you sign up, just leave us a note telling us where you want us to collect from. We typically exchange buckets from our subscribers’ front porch, but we can go into backyards upon request, so long as gates are left unlocked and there are no loose pets on the property.

I live in an apartment complex, can you still pick up our bin?

While we try to provide pickups for all our subscribers who live in apartments, our services vary from complex to complex based on our arrangements with management. The more of your neighbors we get to sign up, the better the chances that we can provide pickup, so spread the word!

What if I forget to leave our bin out on pickup day?

Typically, you must wait for the following week. Remember, two buckets are the same price as one. For many families, two buckets might be able to cover two weeks’ food waste.

Do I need to be home for pickup day?

Nope, we will handle everything.

Do you collect during holidays?

Typically, we do not collect on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas Day. We clearly communicate with our subscribers by text about their rescheduled day during the holiday weeks.

What if my bin is lost or damaged?

No problem, just let us know; the first lost or damaged bin is on us!

How do I stop pests from getting into the bins?

Pests should not be able to get into the bins because of the airtight lid. Make sure the lid is securely closed when not in use. You may also need to put the bin out for collection more often if you’re regularly skipping pickups. 

How do I minimize odors from my bin?

For a weekly pickup, odor should not be much of an issue. Your kitchen caddies will keep the food waste from composting for a day or two, and your 4-gallon bucket is airtight. For best results, keep your 4-gallon bin in your house or in your garage, and you will avoid odor problems.

My waste doesn’t fit in my bin? Can you still collect it?

We don’t like to collect extra compost. If you are expecting a larger load, just give us a call to see if we can make arrangements.

Drop-off service

Where can I drop off my compost waste?

Check the map where we’re accepting drop-offs near you and check back soon for newly added spots.

What are the opening hours for the drop-off location?

Roughly speaking, the drop-off locations are open seven days per week, sunup to sundown. There are some exceptions to that general rule, and we’ll communicate those when you sign up.

How often can I drop off my waste?

You can head to a drop-off location as often as you like!

How many bins do you provide?

We provide one 4-gallon bin.

How do I drop off my compost waste?

You can measure and send us the weight of your compostables then place them in our dedicated drum. We have easy instructions at each location to answer any questions.

Do I have to measure and send the weight of my compostables?

We provide hand scales so that you can easily weigh your compost and share that weight with us. If you want to track and measure your impact, this is the way. If that’s not your thing, you can skip this part and just drop off your compost.

Can I switch to a pickup plan?

Definitely! Just call us and we will modify your account and provide you with an additional collection container if you need it, an expanded list of compostable items, and your scheduled collection day of the week.

Post-Collection

What happens to the waste you collect?

We take everything we collect to a compost facility, where the food waste is mixed with vegetative waste to become compost. Learn more about what happens to your food waste.

Can I earn my compostables back in compost?

Yes, we offer compost back to our residential and commercial subscribers twice per year, in the fall and the spring.

What if I don’t want compost back?

No worries, there are always community organizations that can use it. We will arrange for your compost to go to them.

Do you offer reporting on my composting?

Yes! We track a variety of stats on your compost activity that is available for easy access in our free app. Visit our Diversion Dashboard page to learn more.

What does the Diversion Dashboard cost?

For our residential subscribers, it’s provided as part of our service at no additional cost.

Is there a referral program?

There sure is. If a new residential pickup subscriber signs up and lists you as a referral, you receive a $5 credit. There is no limit to how many credits you can earn, so sign up, and tell all your friends and family! Learn more about Referral Rewards.

Turn your food waste into valuable compost for yourself or the community with the help of Moonshot Compost.

Learn more about our home composting services.

Composting is easy and clean