I don't think they're getting rich from it, but since we started doing it a few years ago it's made a dramatic difference in how much trash we have (and how stinky our trash is)

Our trash can has so little food waste in it (generally none unless something accidently slips in) that when a bear came out of the woods a few springs ago we caught him on camera sniffing our trash can and then walking away. He tried to eat our artificial reef, then gave up on that and went on his way.

Having compost outside your house out here is tricky - most people we know who do it have had to deal with damage from bears or other wildlife multiple times.

Taking it to a central place is a bit of a hassle, so the services that pick up at each house have sprung up.