The Future Is Green: Catarina Muschaweck and Micah Puncochar Of Compost Nashville On Their Top Strategies for a Cleaner Planet
Be a conscious consumer. The simplest thing we can all do is become more aware of the purchases we are making. Whenever possible, making an effort to reduce your consumption will create more sustainable habits. When making a purchase, try to purchase used. If not possible, buy the highest quality item you can afford because it will last longer.
As we face an unprecedented environmental crisis, the need for sustainable solutions has never been more urgent. This series seeks to spotlight the innovative minds and passionate advocates who are leading the charge in environmental conservation and sustainable practices. We aim to explore the most effective strategies, breakthrough technologies, and transformative policies that are shaping a more sustainable future for our planet. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Catarina Muschaweck and Micah Puncochar, Compost Nashville.
Micah: When Micah’s not helping local businesses become more sustainable by composting, he can be found spending time at home with his wife and two daughters or traveling the globe when he can.
Catarina: Catarina drives growth and composter success and fosters strategic partnerships for Compost Nashville. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving, hiking, gardening, reading and spending quality time with her family.
Thank you so much for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?
Micah: I grew up in the suburbs of Nashville, surrounded by wooded hills, creeks and caves. As a kid, my friends and I spent almost all our free time outside in nature. My mom taught me how to garden, which ignited my passion for tree and plant knowledge. My first job was at a nearby private nature center, where we built trails and rehabilitated injured owls. After a year or two in the workplace, I joined the Peace Corps as a volunteer in Paraguay, working with a farming cooperative. There, I learned firsthand the vital role of compost in an agricultural setting. Plants grow stronger, faster and are more productive when they are grown in soil that contains compost. It was a lightbulb for me, for sure. Upon returning to the US, I knew I wanted to work outside, so I started a landscaping company, where I noticed that many of my clients shared similar frustrations with their own attempts at composting, which convinced me there was an opportunity to create a solution.
Catarina: I have had the opportunity to explore various environments, including deserts, mountains and the ocean. Seeing so much of the country growing up gave me a deep appreciation for the natural world around me. My grandparents were involved in a conservation alliance, and I took an environmental policy course that opened my eyes to the reality that the beauty and safety of our planet aren’t guaranteed.
Even with this interest, a career in sustainability didn’t feel like an option for me. I thought I’d follow the college-to-corporate job path. Although I gained so much from my corporate position, I kept getting pulled back toward sustainability. I started a recycling program in my office, began composting with my husband, lived a low-waste lifestyle, and even got involved in efforts to preserve a large piece of undeveloped land in Nashville. Then, when I saw a marketing position open at Compost Nashville, I realized I could take my practical skills — ones I thought only fit into corporate spaces — and use them to support mission-driven businesses making a positive impact. It was a turning point for me when I realized that sustainability isn’t only for people with science degrees; it’s for anyone willing to use their talents to create a net-positive good in their community and the planet.
Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
Catarina: One of the most interesting moments of my career was when I realized that everything I thought I wanted left me feeling empty. I had spent years advocating for businesses and individuals in the challenging healthcare system, and I climbed the ladder to the point where I became a key account manager. I reached the level in my career that I thought I wanted to get to, but once I arrived, I realized that it wasn’t as fulfilling as I had hoped and that the industry I was in wasn’t somewhere I wanted to stay long-term.
The next day, I serendipitously stumbled across a social media post from a small organization working to grow food, not landfills. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave a stable corporate role, and I knew the risks involved, but I realized that it would be best to align my career with my values and that I was lucky to have the chance to do that.
The takeaway from this experience was that finding purpose in a current role or shifting to another one can be well worth it, even though change can be daunting.
Micah: We recently celebrated a big milestone at Compost Nashville: ten years in business and ten million pounds diverted from the landfill. In addition to our regular jobs, we were also trying to plan a big celebratory party. We kept running into obstacles on pretty much every aspect of the party — where to have it, when to have it, who would cater it, what kind of music to have, all while trying to stay under an unrealistic budget. At that point, we started reaching out to our community.
Soon, we secured a brand-new venue, a client of ours worked with us on a custom catering package, a renowned musician who is a long-time client agreed to perform, and we pulled off a successful party. But, it only happened with the support of our community. Even our relationship with our local government came in handy when the mayor agreed to attend our party and speak.
One of our core values is to be “in the community and for the community”. This reminded me that we’ve put a lot of effort into building our community in Nashville, and when it was time for us to lean on that community, we felt more supported than ever before. The lesson is to be active in your local community and support other organizations as much as you can.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Self awareness. It’s especially important with regard to your capacity and weaknesses. Back in 2012, I (Micah) saw the opportunity for a home compost pickup service but quickly realized that I would need help getting this off the ground. I brought the idea to someone I knew who had a deep knowledge of compost. He loved the idea but was also limited on time and reached out to his friend who had more time and a desire to be a part of a new initiative. If I had deluded myself into thinking I could do it all on my own, it never would have been as successful as it has been. For me (Catarina), self-awareness means being process-oriented. I’ve noticed throughout my work that some folks lean into the big picture, and others are more detail-oriented. Sometimes, big-picture individuals lose sight of details that matter, and sometimes, detail-oriented folks can get in the weeds and lose sight of the original goal. But, when there is a clear process in place, it makes it much more difficult for things to be missed and keeps a good rhythm to the outcome of the project.
- Comfort with risk and willingness to adapt. Another way to say this is knowing that failure is possible and accepting that. Compost pickup services barely existed in the US when we first started, so there weren’t many examples to follow. Our team was eager to learn more information and update our perspective based on that. And this is something I’m (Catarina) always working on. It’s easy for me to form opinions quickly, but I am also willing to change my mind and correct it when new data is brought to my attention. You wouldn’t expect the first iteration of a product or an app to be the final outcome, so we shouldn’t expect ourselves to ever stagnate in who we are and what our perspectives are on the world around us.
- Curiosity. Having a sense of wonder and intrigue has helped us grow and offer new services like event composting. Being curious helps us identify other opportunities. Everyone wants to be seen, heard and understood. The more we can work on seeking understanding from those around us, the better off we’ll all be. An example of this is when we were working on a product launch, and it didn’t seem to be moving forward the way we anticipated. So, we sought out feedback and everyone was able to list their challenges with it. Since we came at it with an open mind, we were able to create a clear path forward in the project.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that might help people?
Catarina: Compost Nashville always evaluates more ways to grow food, not landfills. In 2025, we will see new ways individuals and businesses can do both of those alongside us — beyond letting us compost for them and our compost donation. We’re looking at other waste streams we can help divert and ways to get nutrient-dense soil to anyone who can put it to good use.
Micah: We’re hoping to offer a couple of new things in 2025. One of them will be a way for people to recycle things not normally accepted in their municipal recycling bins. This will help our customers by offering other options than simply just throwing these items “away”. The second is to offer more compost soil blends through our online store. This will give our clients more options to have soil amendments delivered to their homes for their own gardens and indoor plants.
What pivotal moment led you to dedicate your career to sustainability, and how has that shaped your approach to environmental challenges?
Micah: While owning a landscaping company, I realized that a lot of people felt like they “should” be composting but didn’t for a variety of reasons. I firmly believe that all households and businesses should compost, so creating an easy way for people to do that was a no-brainer. That mindset has led me to always ask the question, “What can be done locally, by each household and by local businesses?”. This helps drive action, energy and conversations around local solutions like composting, recycling correctly, planting native plants and volunteering with ecological organizations.
Catarina: I knew I wanted my success and the success of the organization I spent my time and energy on to have a positive impact. It has shaped my current approach because I can provide a more corporate background in a mission-driven environment, enabling me to utilize my skillset in unique ways to shape decision-making and project management, providing a level of organization, strategy and focus that I learned through my previous work.
Could you describe a groundbreaking project or initiative you’ve been involved in that significantly contributed to sustainability?
Catarina: When I hear the word “groundbreaking,” I think about something huge. But what I’ve found is that everything we work on each day and our intentions towards those things slowly, over time, leads to impactful change. One project I have had the pleasure of working on is our compost donation to local farms, schools and community gardens. It’s such a tangible way to ensure that our local food is nutrient-dense and that our soils are resilient in the face of droughts and flooding. And in a way, it is quite literally groundbreaking — since farmers are breaking new ground to make room for new plants to grow. Many of the other compost haulers are doing similar work within their communities as well. We can all learn from each other while impacting our local communities in the ways that are best and most applicable to them, and in the end, that leads to significant contributions to sustainability.
Micah: Compost Nashville has served and grown alongside the Nashville community for more than ten years. We have proudly diverted over 11 million pounds of waste from our landfills, helping put those nutrients back into our local land. At Compost Nashville, we pride ourselves on meeting our community members where they are and serving as a sustainable resource for their goals. The growth of our business is due to our community reaching out and asking for our help. We started as a couple of buddies hauling compost in our truck and have grown to offer composting services to local businesses, events and neighbors throughout Middle Tennessee. We’ve had the honor of working directly with our city to partner on waste services for numerous Nashville events and to support Metro Nashville’s Food Scraps Pickup Pilot program. We are honored to be part of a community that wants to make a change, and we are thrilled to be able to help make that change.
How do you navigate the balance between economic growth and environmental preservation in your sustainability strategies?
Catarina: Balanced, long-term growth relies on strategies that work in tandem with the health of the planet. If we seek only economic growth, without taking into consideration the needs of our planet to continue to feed and house us, we will only see short-term growth. Although it can be daunting to consider environmental impact if it hasn’t been done before, there are many ways to go about finding that balance. Whether it’s making sure the organization’s efforts are carbon-negative, or ensuring a product won’t cause harm to people or the planet when it is finished being used, there are tangible ways to create that balance.
Micah: This is a delicate balance for sure. When we must invest in a new vehicle or piece of equipment, we always factor in at which point it will be carbon neutral. That guides us in whether we will pursue new or used vehicles. We are also very cognizant of the fact that we can’t run a business if it isn’t profitable, so this obviously affects our pricing models and drives us to continue investing in the business.
What emerging technologies or innovations do you believe hold the most promise for advancing sustainability and why?
Micah: To me, what holds the most promise for advancing sustainability isn’t found in something new but rather a deeper understanding of how nature already works. Forests and grasslands naturally do so well at cleaning our air and water, restoring our soil and capturing carbon. The process of composting is very sophisticated and turns waste into fertility. We have the solutions right in front of us. I believe that if we continue to research and study how these natural systems work, we can better replicate that in our endeavors.
Catarina: Some of the most promising innovations are those that work with nature, rather than against it. As we work towards a more resilient planet, we can use systems that the Earth has used to keep itself going forever. For example, composting returns nutrients to the soil, and farmers can create drought and flood-resistant crops because of it. Clean energy sources that use the sun, wind, etc., are making it possible to support long-term environmental health over some of the limited resources that are currently being used. We can find so many innovative solutions by looking at the world around us and seeing how we can work within it instead of exploiting it.
Based on your research or experience, can you please share your “5 Top Strategies for a Cleaner Planet”?
- Be a conscious consumer. The simplest thing we can all do is become more aware of the purchases we are making. Whenever possible, making an effort to reduce your consumption will create more sustainable habits. When making a purchase, try to purchase used. If not possible, buy the highest quality item you can afford because it will last longer.
- Believe that small actions matter. While it’s true that large corporations and governments can play a major role in emissions and environmental harm, individual actions still have value. Small choices — composting, reducing waste and advocating for change — build momentum and inspire others to show decision-makers that there is demand for sustainable options.
- Collaborate. We need to learn from other countries and communities that are already doing it well instead of being siloed off. We already have solutions in place for waste management, clean water and net-negative emissions. It’s not like this is some great mystery. We have already found solutions; we just need to start collaborating with each other to do so and not believe that we are so different we can’t utilize methods that have worked for others and apply them to our circumstances.
- Fund. Everything in this world as it stands requires funding. And everyone with an investment portfolio has the ability to place their money into ESG funds that provide the necessary funding for sustainable work. Investing in projects such as carbon-free power generation, local infrastructure updates like rainwater systems or some of the many organizations providing sustainable products and services goes a long way. When possible, we should use our funds to support those organizations.
- Get involved locally and support local initiatives. Sustainability can feel overwhelming, but every effort matters. Those who are in sustainable communities should always have a seat at the table, regardless of their background or level of participation. Those who are interested should feel welcomed because of their curiosity and willingness to act, not due to the knowledge they already have or the changes they have already made. There are often local initiatives focused on environmental issues like clean water, native plants, planting trees, etc. These projects can always use the support of the community. A native plant initiative I (Micah) love is called Homegrown National Park led by Doug Tallamy.
In your view, what are the key steps individuals, communities, and governments need to take to achieve a more sustainable future?
Catarina: Individuals, communities and governments need only to look to the organizations already doing the work and start supporting them as much as possible. Contrarily, organizations that are particularly dangerous to a sustainable future should receive fewer incentives.
Micah: Individuals and communities should be conscious of where their waste goes and make every effort to reduce the amount that gets landfilled by encouraging recycling and composting. Communities can do this by offering those services to their citizens. Governments can improve on this by funding efforts towards these goals. As of now, permitting a composting facility (where food waste is mixed with wood chips and leaves) is very difficult and costly. Governments could streamline this process so that there are multiple sites in every county in every state. Governments could also offer rebates to companies who choose to divert their waste via recycling or composting efforts.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Micah: I would love to see a system/movement that paired landowners with people seeking land to fulfill their dreams. For instance, let’s say you wanted to start a flower garden to sell to the local florist industry. It might be out of your financial reach to buy acreage out of town, but it would probably be in your budget to lease a few acres from someone who owns excess land. It would be amazing to see people in urban environments be able to tap into the resources of the countryside a little bit more easily. This would also help farmers hold onto their land by diversifying their income streams. Just like Airbnb, a host could list what “amenities” they have, such as barns, storage sheds, farmland, access to water, etc., and people looking could search using those filters and they could begin the conversation around cost. Both parties could be verified and insured.
Catarina: I would love for our society to measure success by the character and impact people have. If we began to lift people who had strong character and integrity and created a positive impact, I think we’d see a lot of positivity stem from that. Similarly, policy change is extremely helpful for addressing sustainability challenges, but political systems have become increasingly complex. In the long term, supporting leaders who represent the qualities mentioned above will help move sustainability forward. And in the short term we are seeing small wins like local funding for a food scrap collection pilot and grants for coral gardening that are creating a positive impact.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
Check out Compost Nashville’s blog and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
You can also find us on LinkedIn.
- Caterina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catarina-muschaweck/
- Micah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-puncochar-0b23ab23b/
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
The Future Is Green: Catarina Muschaweck and Micah Puncochar Of Compost Nashville On Their Top… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.