Composting & Organics Recycling are the next frontier — Wanu helps you lead the way.
Wanu sees a future where every community has the knowledge, tools, and systems to turn organic waste into local value. We guide you in organics recycling management strategies and design appropriate composting operations.
ORGANIZATIONS WE’VE WORKED WITH
CONSULTING SERVICE AREAS
Wanu helps public and private clients plan, design, and strengthen composting and organics recycling operations through three core service areas:
STRATEGIC GUIDANCE & TECHNICAL DUE DILIGENCE
From concept to launch, we help clients align goals, funding, and execution to build resilient operations.
SMART DESIGN & OPERATIONS
We collaborate with clients to create systems tailored to their site, scale, and operational goals.
PRACTICAL TRAINING
Through hands-on education, tools, and resources, we build local capacity and empower operators and decision-makers.
What does Wanu mean?
“wanu” is the Quechua word for guano, nutrient-rich excrement from seabirds. In the 1850s, guano was imported from Peru into US agricultural soils. In the picture below, Jorge is visiting the Guano Islands near his hometown of Lima.
ABOUT WANU
Wanu is led by Jorge Montezuma, a well-rounded professional with over 14 years of organics experience, including 5 years in composting operations. Previous experience includes working for NC DEQ, Atlas Organics / Generate Upcycle, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Smith Gardner, Peace Corps Panama, and AmeriCorps.
Jorge has worked in over 60 composting projects across the country and visited more than 140 small and large organics recycling operations, 110 being composting operations. His experience spans from concepts to operations.
Beyond project-level involvement, Jorge served as a Board of Director for the US Composting Council and NC Composting Council and was an active member in the CA and MD-DC state chapters. He participated in developing the USCC Model Zoning Template and Guidelines, has written for BioCycle Magazine, and has presented and moderated panels at multiple national and regional conferences.
Notably, for over a decade Jorge has trained over 600 professionals through the CREF Compost Operations Training Course and other trainings, and has developed free online tools to develop composting recipes and visualize composting pads. He is an USDA Composting SME (Subject Matter Expert) assisting in bird flu outbreaks. Jorge is a member of the US Composting Council (USCC) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA).
The combination of these diverse experiences equip Wanu with a vast knowledge base, strong network, and creative problem-solving skills that will be put into use on your project.
TESTIMONIALS
What truly set Jorge apart was his exceptional communication and project management skills. He seamlessly coordinated between multiple stakeholders, anticipated challenges before they arose, and kept our project on track despite the complexities involved. His technical knowledge was outstanding, but it was his leadership and strategic approach that made the biggest impact.
– Phil Westcott, Founder, Key City Compost
Jorge is all things compost! Connected, insightful, conscientious, and thorough. He is our go to compost consultant!
– Stacey A. Smith, PE, President/Sr. Engineer, Smith Gardner Inc.
[The Operations Math workshop] was everything I needed it to be.
– Doug Millar, San Mateo Resource Conservation District
[The Operations Math workshop had] to the point ideas, concise formulas & a great experience from the instructor.
– Workshop attendee
RECENT PRESENTATIONS & TRAININGS
COMPOST2026 – Designing Compost Operations workshop (Sacramento, CA) 2/2026
USCC Webinar – Selling/Recapitalizing Composting Businesses (Virtual) 9/2025
BPI Summit – Compost Quality (Atlanta, GA) 9/2025
CREF/NCCC Compost Operations Training Course (Raleigh, NC) 9/2025
CREF NE Compost Operations Training Course (Lincoln, NE) 6/2025
BPI webinar series on compostable products, Moderator (Virtual) 2025
COMPOST2025 – Operations Math workshop (Phoenix, AZ) 1/2025
Halfmoon Training, Organic Waste Composting Seminar (Virtual) 11/2024
CFSA Sustainable Agriculture Conference (Durham NC) 11/2024
CREF FL Compost Operations Training Course (Tampa, FL) 10/2024
NC Climate Week: Food & Climate Panel (Virtual) 10/2024
NC SWANA Fall Conference (Wilmington NC) 9/2024
NCCC/CREF Compost Operations Training Course (Raleigh NC) 9/2024
Commercial Composting (Virtual, hosted by NCCC) 8/2024
GA SWANA Spring Conference (Young Harris GA) 3/2024
Not sure where to start? Explore the low-cost Compost Project Assessment.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
Wanu Organics PLLC
Raleigh-Durham Area, NC
LinkedIn
(919) 883-5368
