Franklin Tennessee Compost Facility Tour : Where the Magic Happens

Today we are doing something different; we are taking a tour of the City of Franklin 's Compost Facility here in Middle Tennessee. As you all know, I love adding Compost and all it's benefit to my lawn. It changes the composition of the soil and increases nitrogen and other nutrients. The City of Franklin was gracious enough to allow us to visit and tour their facility. I would highly recommend looking for similar facilities in your city or municipality.
If you live in or near the Middle Tennessee area, here's some information about our facility:
1: Open to the public: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:00am to 2:00pm. Please call to confirm availability
2: They only load open bed trucks, dump trucks, and trailers
3: Address: 1116 Incinerator Rd, Franklin, TN 37064
4: $20 Vouchers can be purchased at City Hall located at 109 3rd Ave South, Franklin, TN 37064. Each voucher is good for one (1) Cubic Yard of compost.
For more information you can contact the Compost Facility Manager, Todd King, at:
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
** CORRECTION FROM THE VIDEO **
The leaves collected by the compost facility was:
3380 yards not bags and they collected over 14,000 yards of leaves this year, not bags.
Thanks again to Todd King, James Crafton, and the City of Franklin for allowing me to spend a few hours learning more about this great facility!
#LawnShark #Compost #FranklinTN
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below or email me at: [e-mail]
Don’t forget to “like” and SUBSCRIBE! Have a great week everyone!
Instagram: / the.lawn.shark

[@ianashworth7744]

When the manager called the steam coming up from the compost like London Fog. It did make me laugh. I am in London and fog is pretty rare these days. But when I was a young man we had some real "pea soupers". It's great to see the local authority doing something positive for the community.

[@TheLawnShark]

😂 And yes, it is one of the many wonderful things our town does. Makes a huge difference.

[@estebancorral5151]

I have been to London, and felt the fog piercing my chest like needles of ice. It was as though, I were living through an old Hammer Films horror movie. I could forgive London since it merely a lay over to Andalusia, Spain. There I was was amazed to find the beaches over run by Britons who had run amok wearing apparel not much wider than dental floss. You are a nation of flesh flaunters.

[@johnrosier1686]

I was not aware that any municipalities had this big of an operation. Good to see this type of thing going on.

[@TheLawnShark]

It's one of the best things we have going! Super proud of my city for doing such a great job!

[@EDLaw-wo5it]

I live near Hays Ks and they also have a community compost facility. It is free there and I had it tested for mom and it was wonderful. I didn’t have a chemical test as it is very expensive but I am not certified organic but everything that grows in my garden is raised organically except for possibly the compost. Y’all are doing good. Havagudun. Stay well.

[@TheLawnShark]

@@EDLaw-wo5it That is great to hear. I may have to do a soil test on our compost just out of curiosity.

[@losclaveles]

Just about every decent sized city has an operation similar to this size. Think about Eastern cities, trying to deal with foliage every fall. It's a mountain of material. What are they going to do with it other than compost it?

[@losclaveles]

For example, Franklin TN is a suburb of Nashville TN, and Nashville has its own giant composting facility.

[@peterstevens6555]

Good afternoon from Auckland, New Zealand ... 🙂🙂🙂

[@TheLawnShark]

Good Afternoon!

[@MattKnowsThat]

Thanks. I’m glad they sell it to anyone. I’m over past Cookeville but come that way occasionally. I’ll bring my trailer and get a few yards next time around.

[@TheLawnShark]

Great! I suggest you call first since they sometimes run out of the processed Compost. Since the secret is out, they are a hot commodity.

[@Jerry-LZ]

Cool that you have this available. My landscape place costs $30/$45/yd depending on which one compost you get. I looked up compost facility but nothing for my city and the others are locked to residents so I didnt both digging deeper.

[@TheLawnShark]

We are very fortunate!

[@bleh-hc9mw]

I passed through Franklin while I was thru hiking the AT back in 2017. Back here in 2024 as I set off to start composting myself. Thanks for the video - much appreciated!

[@TheLawnShark]

That is awesome! Best of luck to you.

[@tonyschmucker1979]

I wish you well, but Franklin is nowhere near the AT.

[@ElijahWAnders]

This is so cool. I had no idea Franklin did this!

[@TheLawnShark]

Franklin is great! Are you from this area?

[@lestapp7845]

We’re in the Murfreesboro area and will check them out. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheLawnShark]

You’ll love it! Great quality!

[@andrewclary872]

@@TheLawnShark yea, I'm in Smyrna. I'm probably going to use that to level the yard in the spring. This was a great video, Dino! Thanks for doing this.

[@TheLawnShark]

@@andrewclary872 Awesome! I would consider mixing the compost with sand to get better leveling properties. I did this a few videos back and it worked great! The compost by itself may settle more than you would like over time. Thanks for watching and reaching out!

[@LMBrown3900]

Very well presented video. Nice job! As an aside, Bob Rodale was advocating community based composting back in the 1970s - 1980s. Looks like it is more than feasible and actually PROFITABLE when done properly.

[@TheLawnShark]

Thank you! It looks like there are quite a few communities that do this. Some are better than others, but it is nice to see communities working at this.

[@granvillehorn6832]

This city and these guys are to be commended. Wish they were closer to me……

[@TheLawnShark]

Indeed! These guys are great and it has been fun to see it take off.

[@clearskyamerica3107]

Great video highlighting a well run operation. That is some great quality compost. I sure do wish as a nation we could find a way to eliminate using so much plastic as it is so tough to discard of.

[@TheLawnShark]

I completely agree! We need to do better in a smart way to minimize and eliminate plastics where it makes sense. Thanks for watching!

[@garykoblitz4932]

Require homeowners to bag leaves in paper not plastic bags. Paper becomes part of the compost.

[@BermudaBrian]

GREAT video. I'm actually going to send this to our city and county mgrs + a couple commissioners.

[@TheLawnShark]

Nice! I think every city should be doing this!

[@toddking5988]

Good evening, this Todd King facility manager. My contact info is the description, feel free to share with your elected officials. I will help anyway I can. Thank you for watching.

[@BermudaBrian]

@@toddking5988 I emailed our city and county mgrs. City mgr replied and said Franklin is a great city. Our works depart mgr will probably be reaching out to you.

[@TheLawnShark]

Todd King Thanks Todd!

[@LawnBurgundy]

i just did the same also posted to local reddit page

[@wmcjrtn]

Great job Dino!!! Love the field trip and learned a ton, or should I say yard!!

[@TheLawnShark]

It's a great facility! Thanks for the support as always!

[@LawnJourneys]

I’ve seen these operations in my professional life. Very good video by you, great to change up the programming and do something different on YT. 👍

[@TheLawnShark]

Thank you very much! Appreciate you checking it out!

[@jamieblackburn1587]

Awesome video! Im just now getting into compost and the more i research, the more i see how huge the benefits are! Im currently starting on worm castings and the Johnson Su Bio-reactor.

[@TheLawnShark]

Very nice! Compost is definitely a game-changer!

[@memdog5]

thanks for making the video. we’re on a farm and putting in composting and this was very helpful.

[@TheLawnShark]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SuperTA329]

YO... Cool video. Thanks for sharing your tour.

[@TheLawnShark]

Thanks man! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mrlove0912]

Man I had given up on purchasing this compost, thought you had to be a resident! Thanks for this video 😊

[@TheLawnShark]

I was surprised as well, but great for people willing to make the drive!

[@BudgetLawns]

Nice change of pace man. Great, interesting video! 👊

[@TheLawnShark]

Glad you liked it! Thanks Travis!

[@rickthelian2215]

Great video, liked the tour $20 a yard is quite cheap that people can afford.

[@TheLawnShark]

Definitely! They have supply problems because there is such high demand, but I get as much as I can whenever I can! Thanks for watching!

[@ShannonOKelleyInteriors]

Whoa. I live 3 miles away (apparently under a rock!?!?!) and I was today years old when I learned about this!

[@TheLawnShark]

It's the best kept secret in Franklin!!!

[@ShannonOKelleyInteriors]

@@TheLawnShark They've been keeping it from me for 15 years! Admittedly it is not that difficult to keep a secret from me.

[@TheLawnShark]

@@ShannonOKelleyInteriors Ha! Glad I could help!

[@alinpellegrino8398]

Great video! Thank you!!

[@TheLawnShark]

Glad you liked it! Thank you!

[@rustyfan89]

Very interesting info, my township does something similar but they don’t sell you can get it for free if you go pick it up and load it yourself but just pickup or trailer and your own shovel no commercial or power equipment to pick it up

[@TheLawnShark]

Well that is pretty cool. Sometimes I don't need that much, so it would be perfect!

[@rustyfan89]

@@TheLawnShark it’s probably not as good quality as Franklin, as it’s really just a pile of wood chips and leaves that the township has collected over the past year and let sit in a big pile maybe turning every so often but I’ve used it and best of all it’s free!

[@TheLawnShark]

@@rustyfan89 Hey, free is free! 😜

[@samqueen8276]

Loved the video. I am gonna head down 65 and pick up some compost for sure. Thanks for the info and for the content, great stuff👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@TheLawnShark]

Great! Glad I could help. So, where are you coming from?

[@samqueen8276]

@@TheLawnShark Bellevue

[@emarkjacobs]

did he say that is a two man operation? impressive stuff

[@TheLawnShark]

Yup! The two of them handle the whole thing! And they do an amazing job!

[@emarkjacobs]

@@TheLawnShark wow. Okaaaay then

[@microsoilenhancersinspirey5750]

Thank you for this video... I’m 60 miles north of Nashville in kentucky and have been looking for a place to buy compost... I will be checking them out as we are needing a lot for our farm! Thank you again... Shalom!..

[@TheLawnShark]

Glad I could help! Shalom!

[@rizocars6115]

what a great video

[@TheLawnShark]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much!

[@floridamancomedy3151]

Awesome video man, very entertaining for a dirt guy like me. I’m subscribed for sure.

[@floridamancomedy3151]

Very informative I’ve managed a compost/mulch/topsoil yard for 10 years and I learned more from this video.......

[@TheLawnShark]

Awesome, thank you!

[@TheLawnShark]

Appreciate it! Todd is a great guy and super knowledgeable!

[@Soilfoodwebwarrior]

i am a consultant with the soil food web school run by dr elaine Ingham . we constantly make fun of municipal composting facilities because they dont successfully make "compost", the putrify organic matter. you are very lucky, they are making quality compost in your area for very cheap. i am jealous my local compost is scary bad

[@TheLawnShark]

We are very fortunate. Sorry to hear your compost is so bad.

[@brendanbrown8704]

What would be the most effective composting system for a true organic food waste municipal composting facility for populations 100K+? Would Johnson-Su at large scale work for a large scale operation? Or is furrowing and inoculating the best way? Any feedback would be appreciated! 😊

[@auburnsun777]

Wow-we have started a composting non-profit here in Virginia Beach with our farmer who studied with her years ago!!! We just saw her speak at this years VABF conference in Roanoke VA. And yes-you are correct. We don't recommend box store compost or large scale operations bc it is never done quite right. I wonder what the acreage is for this facility??.....we are looking to go on 20 acres for windrows....will probably need more as we are in a very heavily populated area.

[@losclaveles]

I know you guys are limited by your size, and the need to keep things moving, but are you guys familiar with the fungal dominated compost created by Johnson Su bioreactors? It takes a year, but the compost is WAYYYY better than the bacterial dominated compost created when doing active aerated compost windrows.

[@TheLawnShark]

I am not familiar with it. Will have to check it out.

[@projetchalet]

Damn - I'm in Quebec Canada and at 20$ a yard... I'm just sad to be that far ! Great stuff !

[@TheLawnShark]

It's quite the deal!

[@projetchalet]

@@TheLawnShark Each year our city ask for projects and I'm looking for a decent way to do quality compost and suggest it as my idea of project. They only have 10K$ each year, but I feel we can start small. Leaves, wood chips, grass cutting and garden plants at the end of season. Turning is the hard part... filtering seems important too.

[@PacificNorthwestLawns]

Really cool tour Dino. I wish our area did something like that. Unfortunately, it's all done privately for profit. Great job man.👊🏼

[@TheLawnShark]

Thanks man! It’s such a blessing to have this at our disposal.

[@doncook3584]

Love decomposition

[@TheLawnShark]

Thanks for watching!

[@EmpireDevelopmentGroup]

Curious what the organic matter % was on the testing of the material they have?

[@TheLawnShark]

I would guess close to 100% since it comes from yard waste only. But I am sure there is some clay and non-organic dirt in there as well. Just have no idea how much.

[@keishamurray2711]

I wish our compost facility was like this. The city compost facilities near me use woodchips from brush but combine the water treatment solids. It stinks and Hod knows the chemicals used in the sewage treatment process

[@TheLawnShark]

Yeah, that's not good! 🤮

[@Shruti-w5g]

Question: Want to ask will the maggots destroy the plants adjacent to the composting facility. I want advice regarding this .

[@TheLawnShark]

If the compost is produced correctly, then there are no maggots on the finished compost. Compost "cooks" at a high enough temp that it kills all weeds, seeds, insects, including the larvae. When I get the compost it is just straight black compost that doesn't smell like anything except dirt. If the compost stinks, then I would not use it.

[@kevindenniston2110]

I work for an organic composting facility in Victorville California called American Organics

[@TheLawnShark]

They are awesome! It is always my preferred compost.

[@brendanbrown8704]

Great job! want to start a compost farm like this in my area to serve as a municipal home and restaurant food scrap organic operation. What would be the approximate start up costs for an operation like this?

[@TheLawnShark]

This is run by the City of Franklin, TN. I would contact Todd King at the city and see if he can help determine that for you.

[@Samshauling]

Black Gold!

[@TheLawnShark]

Indeed it is!

[@robertevans8024]

I feel bad for these guys with the price of fuel these days. They are providing a very valuable service to their community and to the environment.

[@TheLawnShark]

100% agree. Fuel prices are just beating everyone down.

[@LawnPusher]

I like it. PITTL

[@TheLawnShark]

Appreciate it! 👊

[@wendyshoo3476]

Interesting Waste Recycle

[@TheLawnShark]

It is indeed! And the product they produce is exceptional! Thanks for watching!

[@RGK147]

Leaves are not waste they are nature's soil builder and every house that gets leaves in the fall should compost. But instead now you pay for someone to collect them and then you pay these people for compost, doesn't that system seem a bit stupid

[@TheLawnShark]

Agree that people should compost when possible, but for those who do not have the ability or time, this is a great service. Also, we don't pay extra for the collection of the raw materials we only pay for the finished product, which is exceptional. Also, if the city didn't collect and recycle, it would be waste and end up in a landfill.

[@RGK147]

@@TheLawnSharkI mean the homeowner paying a lawn company to collect the leaves and then paying for compost in the spring seems crazy to me but I suppose not everyone is going to go to the hassle of composting and if you collect the leaves yourself and the city collects it for free it's a win win for everyone

[@TheLawnShark]

@@RGK147 definitely! If I had the room to compost myself, I totally would! I use several year every year.

[@Striperman]

2nd Yo :)

[@TheLawnShark]

Yo! 👊

[@billhatcher2984]

Most cities can't find employees that love their jobs and they go out because they have to have ten or twelve people doing the job and still don't do worth a darn

[@TheLawnShark]

So true. These guys love what they do and do an amazing job!

[@icariusian]

The tractor waste!

[@TheLawnShark]

I don't understand.

[@icariusian]

@@TheLawnShark The exhaust smoke from the tractor must have residue in the final product.

[@TheLawnShark]

@@icariusian I would guess that is pretty minimal.

[@stebarg]

Audio quality could be better. ;)

[@TheLawnShark]

It always can be. I am always trying to improve my videos and audio is always an area of improvement. Thanks for the feedback.

[@bobfanning6816]

Does anyone know where one can find a listing of facilities (government or private) where “in bulk” compost can be purchased? I live about 100 miles from Franklin, in north Alabama.

[@TheLawnShark]

If you call Todd King at the Franklin facility, I am sure he can tell you where there is a facility near you. I know he is very well connected.

[@fencserx9423]

He said hydrogen… unless I’m really ignorant of some industrial process, i think he meant nitrogen

[@TheLawnShark]

He meant Nitrogen.

[@fencserx9423]

@@TheLawnShark lol good to know. I spent about 10 minutes googling, seeing if hydrogen composting was a thing😂

[@TheLawnShark]

@@fencserx9423 HA! I am not exactly sure where he said it, but I am 99.99% sure he meant Nitrogen. Happens to the best of us. 😂

[@Shyshytown78]

How much was it? I’m also in Kentucky

[@TheLawnShark]

For us in Franklin TN it costs $20 /yd.

[@Shyshytown78]

@@TheLawnShark thats amazing! Thank you!

[@stebarg]

Landfill owners hate this trick. The perverse idea of trading is the root cause of ALL problems.

[@TheLawnShark]

I love the idea of re-use whenever it makes makes sense, and this definitely makes sense.

[@stebarg]

4:05 The visible part of steam consists of microscopic droplets of condensed gasses originating from vaporized liquids, whereas visible smoke contains, in addition, solid particles or solid particles only besides gasses. Please correct me, if I got something wrong here! This topic is a science of its own, and science does not give a satisfying answer to this question. I have to correct myself. haha Steam is actually an invisible vaporized liquid. That's why the question was wrong, to begin with. Usually, we (mis-)use the term steam as a substitute for wet steam. What we see there is actually wet steam, similar to fog, or clouds. haha "Steam that is saturated or superheated is invisible; however, "steam" often refers to wet steam, the visible mist or aerosol of water droplets formed as water vapour condenses." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam

[@TheLawnShark]

Thanks for the info. Very interesting.