About Taos S.C.R.A.P.S
Taos SCRAPS got it's official start in the fall of 2025, although it's founders have been working towards the idea for much longer.
Jennifer Paris, owner, has been immersed in regenerative agriculture principles and recycling strategies since she moved to Taos County in 2019. She has been in conversation with the Town of Taos and Taos County to explore municipal recycling and composting. She has given several in-depth presentations to local government agencies on how Taos County can reduce waste, mitigate drought, and develop a path to enhance agricultural soil.
Zack Vignola, who started the pick-up service, has been composting any organic waste he came across since 2021. Zack is now working with SCRAPS as needed, but he has started work in landscaping services to kick-start his savings for property ownership here in the Taos Valley he loves.
Carlos Arguello at El Tros Farm has offered an incubator site on El Tros Farm with the tractor support needed to expand from on-farm compost to the production of an increased volume of quality compost and additional compost products.
Susan Stuart of Life Underground Labs has consulted on the composition of the piles designed to build microbial life as fully and quickly as possible, and she has introduced us to microscopy to verify the living organisms in our compost.
These four started meeting to shape Taos SCRAPS in early September 2025.
Our Story
Taos SCRAPS was founded with one thing in mind: use local waste to regenerate soil.
When you consider the fact that 90% of arid grasslands in the USA (like the Taos Mesa) are considered desertified or degraded and that roughly 50% of our nation's waste is organic material, the solution is simple:
MAKE COMPOST!
Our Mission
SCRAPS' mission is to provide the residents of Taos County with locally-produced, high-quality compost and mulch products that support healthy soil, sustainable farming, and community resilience. We are committed to reducing waste going to the landfill, improving soil health, and empowering the community through education and consultation.
FAQs
What do you compost?
We compost plant-based food waste, some yard waste, and manure. We're taking a hiatus on meat and dairy as we experiment to determine the best pile recipes for our soils. Worms love meat, so we'll work towards reincorporating some/any and all organic products!
How often/when is the food waste pickup?
Can I pause service?
We can't compost plastics or "recyclable" serving dishes or utensils (and please try to remove produce stickers!) or other non-organic waste/recyclables, meat, dairy, bones, and avocado pits (They are so slow to break down!), or big pieces of paper/cardboard.
Currently household pickups are run every other week on Mondays. Contact us for more information on pickups for your business.
Yes, just reach out and let us know. 575-737-8166.
What don't you compost?
What quantities of compost will be available?
Although we aim to eventually have truckloads and packaged living compost available, we are not yet producing in these quantities. First deliveries will be buckets you bring or we provide. We will let you know when products become available in the spring-summer of 2027. Prices will be available on the website's products page.
