About Us

in 2014…

… Laura Rosenshine founded CGC with a passion for changing the way we think about waste! Starting with the creation of Reclaimed Organics, our microhauling division, we began our work of keeping valuable material out of landfills. Since then, it’s been one massive leap after another! CGC went headfirst into Zero Waste Event design, working with incredible clients all throughout New York City. We bolstered our education and consulting divisions through careful research, innovation, and practiced expertise regarding the most effective ways to encourage meaningful change in behavior and thought about how waste is conceptualized. CGC is now proudly a leading consulting firm in New York City, creating Zero Waste Solutions for all kinds of organizational challenges, with a foundation in behavior-centered design.

Jonas schaller (he/him)

Chief Financial Operator / Director of Microhauling

Jonas Schaller was imported to the USA from Germany in 2014 to help solve the NYC compost crisis! When not joking around, he maintains the Reclaimed Organics Microhauling trike fleet, collects compost, manages on-site food scrap processing, audits waste and helps keep the company’s books. It’s true that he is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor whose favored mode of transport is the bicycle. Jonas can frequently be found escaping the city on his tin donkey (that’s a German term for bicycle!).

Jason Jones (he/him)

Lead Microhauler

Hello, my name is Jason! I joined the CGC family in winter of 2021. I am a microhauler and I look forward to the learning experience I’ll go through while working with this group of amazing individuals. I've been welcomed with open arms even though I didn’t know much about composting before this job! It is never too late to start learning and I’m happy to help try to make a difference in the world with this company - no matter how big or small the impact.

Candice cotler (they/them)

Chief Operating Officer / Consulting Lead

Candice joined the CGC team in March of 2021 to do social media and quickly became the team They Friday - or They of all Trades, if you prefer! From web development to audio/video production to audit staffing and off-site event management, Candice doesn’t mind taking on a challenge! Candice is a certified Reiki Master and has been reading Tarot for 20+ years. You’ll find them hanging out with their cats, Jude. Candice is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor & studying for their LEED Green Associate exam.

annie keating (she/her)

Sustainability Consultant & Event and Audit Lead

Annie is a proud trash nerd with a background helping designers and manufacturers integrate sustainability into their manufacturing practices. She is passionate about building strong relationships to support waste reduction, diversion, and education. Annie is excited to be a part of the CGC team, arming folks with their waste analytics and facilitating positive operational changes. Annie is a certified LEED Green Associate and TRUE Certified Waste Advisor.

Erin mahone (she/her)

Sustainability Consultant & Event and Audit Lead

Erin Mahone is a Zero Waste Consultant at CGC, she coordinates and manages our waste audits and events. Her interest in sustainability began working as a textile designer specializing in natural dyes. Through her practice, she found the abundance of floral and food waste in NYC perfect for dyeing that otherwise would have gone to the landfill. This sparked her curiosity for waste diversion, reduction, and circular economic models. When not working at CGC, she is usually enjoying one of the many beautiful parks with her dog Lucy! Erin is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor.

jo mispel (she/her)

Zero Waste Educator & Sustainability Consultant

Jo Mispel is a Zero Waste Consultant at CGC. Passionate about humanity's need to re-engage with decomposition and life cycles, she gladly left a long stint in corporate publishing to realign. She is thrilled to be part of the organic (yep) CGC family of fellow trash nerds and earth stewards. She loves being part of a team tirelessly striving to recover materials from landfills, and enjoys participating in the mission to help others, big and small, understand what waste really means, reach their waste diversion goals and become part of a more circular economy. Jo is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor.

Luke parker (they/them)

Microhauler

I was born and raised in Phoenix Arizona before moving out to New York for college, where i majored in photography. I have been working working for Common Ground Compost for over a year, previously I had only had experience collecting my own personal compost but I have really enjoyed learning more about the process of creating compost. As a compost hauler you can often find me riding through the city on our trusty trike Sunshine, listening to folk punk, ska, and hyperpop. I typically spend my free time skating around the city and taking photos, and making videos. Even though i’ve only been doing it for a short while I have loved being able to help make a little difference in the world while meeting some lovely people along the way.

Xander shaw (he/him)

Microhauling Fleet and Compost Operations Manager

Xander had the pleasure of joining the team in January of 2024 after spending over 5 years working with community composting nonprofits in NYC. As Microhauling Fleet and Compost Operations Manager, Xander is keeping the electric tricycles running smoothly and the compost piles cooking all year round. Xander is passionate about offering compost focused educational opportunities for groups of all ages. Outside of work you’ll find Xander spending time outside with loved ones and his (tiny) dog! Xander loves cooking with local food, bike rides all around the city, container gardening, and is often found on adventures with family in New England

onasis cirineo (he/him)

Audit Gear & Tech Specialist

Onasis Cirineo is the Waste Audit Gear & tech Specialist, ensuring a smooth waste audit for all of our clients. A native New Yorker his interest in sustainability came after an environmental ethics course in Belize that made him reconsider his career in politics. Since then he’s logged over 200 hours of community volunteering at various community gardens around the city and has led multiple sustainable initiatives at his previous companies. He’s currently pursing a joint degree in Sustainable Architecture and Engineering. In his spare time he creative directs and produces independent documentaries, films and shows. Onasis is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor.

Michael Mcallister (he/him)

Microhauler & On-site Events Lead

Michael McAllister is a compost hauler and sometimes event manager at Common Ground Compost. His interest in sustainability began as an organic farmer in the Hudson Valley, and eventually led him to the grape growing regions of New York. Michael is currently an ambassador for the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, and pursuing his sommelier certification. His focus is the continued spotlight and education of sustainable food and farming practices here locally.

meredith danberg-ficarelli (she/her)

Fmr. Executive Director & Advisory Board Member

Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli is the former Executive Director of Common Ground Compost LLC. She has sat on the US Composting Council board of directors and the steering committee of the Institute for Local Self Reliance’s Community Composting Coalition. She was recognized by the New York State Association for Reuse, Reduction, and Recycling with the 2019 Recycling Leadership Award. Meredith is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor.

Laura Rosenshine (she/her)

Founder & Advisory Board Member

Laura founded CGC in 2014 after a few years working in the commercial waste sector including working with a Norwegian-based technology company piloting in-vessel organics processing in NYC. In 2017, Laura Co-Founded Foodprint Group which was focused on working with chain businesses in and outside of NYC to bring standardization and industry best practices to their waste management programs. In 2021, Laura returned to CGC to focus on building a waste management online platform. Laura is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor.

william klimpert (he/him)

Fmr. Data Architect & Data Advisor

William is the Data and Systems Director at WATS, and former Director of Analytics at Common Ground Compost. As an avid nature enthusiast with a background in plant biophysics, he seeks to use data and technology to increase the accessibility of sustainability initiatives. Since 2019, William has been working with CGC to develop tools and reports that improve workflows and bring audit, composting, and diversion statistics to life. William is a TRUE Zero Waste Advisor.

TO COME

TO COME

Under construction…

 

Check out WATS!

Founded by Laura Rosenshine and Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli (founder and former Executive Director of CGC, respectively).

WATS (Waste Administration + Tracking Software) quantifies the carbon footprint of waste, and automatically delivers action oriented steps to reduce impact.

WATS guides business operators, facilities managers, and sustainability teams in their new and ongoing engagement with waste reduction and the circular economy.