PITTSFIELD, Mass. -  Mary Stucklen spends her Sundays driving across Berkshire County to empty compost bins for her business, Tommy’s Compost Service. 

"Sometimes I get up close and personal with the compost,” said Stucklen with a laugh. “It's definitely a dirty job." 

What You Need To Know

  • Mary Stucklen started her own composting business called Tommy’s Compost

  • It’s named after her son, and she started it to help ensure he has a more sustainable future

  • Stuklen started the business last year, and has grown to have more than 40 customers

  • She plans to eventually make this her full-time job, and partner with the city of Pittsfield

Stucklen started the business last year and now has over 40 customers. It all stems from her wish to ensure a more sustainable future for her one-year-old son, who the business is named after. 

"We have a lot of scary stuff going on in the world,” said Stucklen. “I can't solve those problems, but what I can do is, using my knowledge of compost and trash and all the issues we have with waste, I know I can do my part by starting a compost business."

Tommy's Compost is a one-woman operation, with Stucklen, who’s a full time teacher in Williamsburg, collecting all the food waste and bringing it to local farms by herself each week. It adds up to a very busy Sunday.

"This is a 9 to 5,” said Stucklen of her Sundays. “This is quickly going to become a 9 to 6, a 9 to 7, an 8 to 7."

As the business grows, Stucklen hopes to be able to hire some help for the summer. She plans to eventually make this her career, and partner with the city of Pittsfield to create a city-sponsored composting service.

"There are people who cannot afford it,” said Stucklen. “There are so many things that are going on, composting is in the back of their mind. But if we can make it just a little bit easier, we might just convert just enough people to really start making a difference."