Happy Dirty Day

Dirt Hugger recycling. Always. Earth is their business

Rain did not stop the efforts of Dirt Hugger employees this morning as people around the country took note of the 50th Earth Day.

Compost turners, loaders, and pickers were running full out as the company pushed to keep up with demand.

Every day is Earth Day at Dirt Hugger, 111 Rockland Road in Dallesport.

The company has created jobs by utilizing unsold fruit, food scraps, beer yeast, yard and woody debris to create a sellable, nutrient-rich compost. At the same time, the company is removing green waste from the landfills, reducing methane.

There is a lot of green in that brown. Orchardists, landscapers and residents alike are creating quite a demand.

“It’s been crazy,” said Dirt Hugger’s Eildh Maclean this morning. “There is so much to do, we have to run to keep up.”

Last year Dirt Hugger doubled the size of its operation with the addition of a second composting pad. That allowed the company to produce up to 43,000 yards of finished compost annually, according to Chief Organics Officer Tyler Miller.

The company retails its products in Portland as well as the Mid-Columbia region.