Company Making a Difference: Composta SMA

Ramon Rivera: CEO, Diamond Scientific

On my recent visit to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where my son and his family live, I discovered Composta SMA, a service they use to collect their compostable waste. I really believe in the company and I consider it important to share what they do. Companies like them help show that even in small communities, you can make a difference in creating a better world. 

THE SERVICE
Composta SMA is a home organic waste collection service that operates weekly or bi-weekly and returns finished compost to you. Compost is delivered once every two months for weekly collections and every four months for bi-weekly collections. Your waste deliveries are tracked, and you receive proportional amounts of compost in return.

What if I don’t need compost? The main goal is to keep organic waste out of landfills, reducing the pollution caused by greenhouse gases. Organic waste is the primary source of these emissions. Many subscribers donate their extra compost, which is used for reforestation and ecosystem regeneration in the area.

SERVICE AREA
Composta SMA serves homes within an 8-kilometer radius of downtown San Miguel de Allende. If you live outside this area and have several interested neighbors, you can contact the service to discuss potential options.

If you're unsure whether your location is within the service area, send a WhatsApp message to +52 415 1016761 for confirmation.

MEMBERSHIP
The one-time membership fee is $500 pesos ($25.00 USD) and includes a small bucket, a large bucket, a lock, an informational kit, and consultations. Membership is transferable, so you can sell or gift it if you no longer need the service. After registering, you will be contacted via WhatsApp to schedule the delivery of your starter kit. Please DO NOT start collecting your organic waste until you’ve received your starter kit and your collections have been activated.

COLLECTION PAYMENT
After registration, each collection costs:
 $80 pesos ($4.00 USD) if you pay for the year in advance.
 $90 pesos ($4.50 USD) with automatic payments through their platform.
 $120 pesos ($6.00 USD) for cash or bank transfers.
 Free service if you become a Composta SMA ambassador (for every friend who signs up through your referral, you get one month of free service).

Automatic payments save the service 30% of administrative workload, allowing them to offer a $30 pesos ($1.50 USD) discount per collection. Monthly charges for automatic payments are $390 pesos ($19.25 USD) for weekly service and $195 pesos ($10.00 USD) for bi-weekly

service, and they are calculated by dividing the year into 12 months to account for varying numbers of collection days. Payments are made in advance each month, and you can pause the service, but only for full months. If a payment is missed, service is suspended until payment is made and reinstatement is requested via WhatsApp at 415-101-6761.

Drivers are not allowed to accept payments or tips, but tips are welcome during holidays. If you'd like to make a donation, contact the service directly to ensure it’s fairly distributed among drivers, composters, and cleaning staff.

THE BUCKET
The bucket has a 19-liter capacity (5 gallon US). It doesn’t need to be full to be collected; the goal is to divert as much organic waste as possible from landfills. If your bucket fills up before the collection day, you can request an additional bucket at half the cost via WhatsApp.

It’s important to keep your bucket out of direct sunlight, as plastic degrades 1,500% faster when exposed to the sun (on collection days, short exposure is fine).

THE WASTE
Accepted waste: Fruits, vegetables, cooked food, dairy, citrus, meat, paper (no adhesives or ink), garden clippings.

Not accepted: Inorganic materials (plastic, metal, etc.), large amounts of salt, oil, or ashes, toxic or poisonous materials, plastic waste (including labels or bands), disposable products (even if labeled "biodegradable"; or "compostable"), tea bags, colored or adhesive-laden cardboard, and thorns. Waste should be no older than 15 days. For more information on their pet waste service, send a WhatsApp message.

COLLECTIONS
Each area is assigned a specific collection day, which is determined once you register and receive your starter kit. There’s no set collection time due to factors outside their control, so customers receive a combination lock to secure their bucket on the street for collection. Buckets need to be placed outside by 9 a.m., and they will be exchanged for clean ones by 6 p.m. If your bucket is inaccessible, the collection will be postponed until the next scheduled day. If a collection day falls on a major holiday, subscribers will be notified via WhatsApp, and collection will be rescheduled for the next business day.

Report any issues with the collection as soon as possible, preferably within a day, so the service can make it right.

COMPOST DELIVERY
Compost is delivered every two months for weekly subscriptions and every four months for bi-weekly subscriptions. The compost will be left in the clean bucket that replaces your waste bucket during collection. It’s important to put your bucket out on collection day, even if it’s empty, to receive compost.

The amount of compost you receive is proportional to the waste you provide, and the volume of waste reduces by approximately 75% after processing. Composta SMA uses an aerobic composting method with a thermal process that reaches over 70°C to eliminate pathogens, and the compost is stored for nine months to ensure it’s fully mature and ready for use.

DONATE
Help make a difference. Even if you don’t live in San Miguel de Allende, consider donating or sponsoring a subscription for someone else.

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION CHANNELS
Contact Composta SMA via WhatsApp at +52 415 1016761 during business hours, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. Your feedback is important to them!