Groundcycle

Groundcycle
IndustryCompost collection services
FoundedMay 2020; 6 years ago (2020-05)
FounderVivian Lin
Area served
New York City
Websitegroundcycle.org

Groundcycle is a New York City-based biodegradable waste management company that provides local produce deliveries and compost collection services. It was founded in May 2020 by Brooklyn native, Vivian Lin. Services include "bin swaps", a door-to-door service where fresh produce is exchanged for food scraps.

History

During the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City temporarily shut down their composting program and local farms could not sell their produce. In May 2020, Vivian Lin, a Brooklyn native with a bachelor's degree in architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI),[1] created Groundcycle to address the city's limitations in composting.[2] In shifting her focus on sustainability,[1] Lin understood farmers to take organic trash in order to turn it into nutrient rich fertilizer.[3] In the early developments, Lin's friends, family, and volunteers helped transport food scraps to the farms, with thirteen of Lin's friends signing up in the first week to help.[1][4] Two months later, Lin quit her job at an architecture firm to pursue Groundcycle full-time.[5] In early development, Lin called around 40 farms to explore the exchange of food scraps with the farms' produce.[4]

Although New York City has since reinstated is compost program, Groundcycle addresses the city's limited coverage and supporting areas without access. As of 2022, Groundcycle also operated a Compost Hub every Sunday at Vinegar Hill Community Garden, where locals exchanged their compost for fresh produce.[2]

Services

Groundcycle charges households to take their organic waste in exchange for local farm produce. Moreover, the company pays farms to take the organic waste.[3]

Reception

In February 2021, ABC7 New York reported that Lin had "two cars working to sort 50,000 pounds of garbage".[3] A Groundcycle customer comments they still pay for the services despite the city's free services because of "the community aspect of it is really special and a big part of why [they're] staying".[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c Sheldon, Marissa (2023-08-15). "Interview With Vivian Lin, Founder of Groundcycle". NYC Food Policy Center (Hunter College). Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  2. ^ a b Hirsh, Sophie (2022-11-01). "These Small Composting Companies Are Fighting Food Waste Across the U.S." Green Matters. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  3. ^ a b c "Turning trash into treasure: Woman collects NYC garbage, gives it to farmers". ABC7 New York. 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  4. ^ a b "Turning NYC's food scraps into gold". Good Morning America. May 5, 2021. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  5. ^ Nierenberg, Amelia (2020-08-09). "Composting Has Been Scrapped. These New Yorkers Picked Up the Slack". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  6. ^ "As NYC Expands Food Scrap Collection, Local Composting Businesses Seek New Clients". THE CITY - NYC News. 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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