‘We’re creating life’: Dirt Hugger turns yard, food waste into nutrient-rich compos

Steam rises from a pile of compost material March 20 at the Dirt Hugger composting facility in Dallesport. The company uses yard and food waste from Vancouver and Ridgefield to create compost sold at nurseries and landscape supply stores in Clark County. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Dirt Hugger co-founder Pierce Louis talks about the company’s composting process March 20 at the company’s facility in Dallesport. Over 186,000 pounds of food waste from Clark County’s We Compost program was trucked to the facility last year. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Dirt Hugger co-founder Pierce Louis clumps together a handful of compost. The company uses yard and food waste from Vancouver and Ridgefield to make nutrient-rich compost. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

A front loader moves compost material next to a conveyor belt March 20 at the Dirt Hugger composting facility in Dallesport. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Steam rises from a pile of compost material as a front loader works Friday at the Dirt Hugger composting facility in Dallesport. (Photos by taylor balkom/The Columbian)

A worker cleans out a machine Friday at Dirt Hugger in Dallesport.

A conveyor belt moves compost material Friday at the Dirt Hugger composting facility in Dallesport.