Composting could be the next big thing in the U.S., and it's been decades since recycling was introduced.

• According to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, less than 5% of residential food waste is composted.
• The push to make composting as commonplace as recycling is driven by states, municipalities, and private-sector companies, who recognize the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the decreased need for fertilizer and pesticides in agriculture.
• Despite the availability of more at-home options, curbside bins, drop-off locations, and private food waste services that pick up, the infrastructure for recycling is still decades behind, and national legislative efforts have been unsuccessful.

Efforts are being made by some states, municipalities, and private-sector companies to make composting as widespread as recycling, but it is a gradual process.

The utilization of composting has numerous advantages for the environment. It prevents food waste from ending up in landfills, resulting in national food chains such as Chipotle expanding their use of it in restaurants. Additionally, composting reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The utilization of composted materials enhances soil health, increases the soil's capacity to retain carbon, and decreases the demand for fertilizers and pesticides. As a result, major packaged food companies, including PepsiCo, are investigating ways to create more compostable packaging.

Despite data from the Environmental Protection Agency showing that only 3.7% of residential food waste in the U.S. is composted, as of an April 2023 report, interest in composting is increasing and environmental professionals predict it will become even more common in the next five to 10 years.

According to Scott Smithline, former director of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, and current head of public policy and regulatory affairs at Mill, the development of organics recycling is currently at the same stage as traditional recycling was two or three decades ago.

Today, consumers should be aware of the latest information on composting and the future direction of this practice.

Vermont, California lead state food waste efforts

In many regions, composting is not yet widely adopted, but there are various methods available for individuals to compost at home, through curbside bins, drop-off locations, or private valet services that collect food waste from multi-family homes.

Composting developments in various regions are influenced by different legislation and regulations. For instance, most of Europe has rules mandating the separation of food and garden waste, as stated by Jenny Grant, head of organics at REA, a not-for-profit trade association that focuses on renewable energy and clean technology. In contrast, the rules in the U.S. differ between states and municipalities.

The US Composting Council's executive director, Frank Franciosi, stated that national legislative initiatives aimed at promoting composting facilities and programs have not been successful because of the absence of bipartisan support.

Vermont has been a leader in implementing mandatory composting for all residents, which went into effect a year after its passage in July 2019. In contrast, California passed a law two years ago requiring the separation of food and organic waste from landfill trash, but ongoing implementation challenges persist.

Stacy Savage, founder of consulting firm Zero Waste Strategies, stated that several states are seeking advice from these initiatives.

She stated that the public's reaction to these laws, the diversion numbers, and the regional and statewide metrics on how much was actually diverted from landfills are being examined. Additionally, states are considering whether composting can reduce taxpayer expenses.

Thousands of composting facilities needed

In recent years, Franciosi's organization has received an increase in calls from municipalities interested in composting, but funding challenges persist. For instance, New York City launched a program in 2011 that provided residential food scrap drop-off sites and partnered with community composting facilities to produce compost locally. However, the program was terminated last month due to budget cuts, and only select food scrap collection sites remain available. Additionally, curbside composting is currently available in select Community Boards in the Bronx and Manhattan, as well as to all Brooklyn and Queens residents. The program is set to expand to include Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island starting in October.

The lack of composting facilities is a significant challenge in the U.S, with an estimated need for between 1,000 to 2,000 facilities. Franciosi suggested that federal funding could help by providing low-interest loans or grants to municipalities or private individuals to build these facilities.

How to start turning your scraps into soil

Grant stated that changing behaviors related to compositing is challenging, and it mainly depends on education, communication, and providing easy-to-use tools.

If you're interested in trying composting at home, there are several affordable options available, such as a bucket and some worms, according to Lauren Click, executive director of Let's Go Compost. For those without outdoor space, there are also soil sites where you can drop off food scraps.

If your municipality doesn't offer a compost pickup service, you can opt for a private provider that will pick up the compost for you. These providers typically offer a five-gallon bucket pickup service on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. The cost for these services can range from $30 to $50 per month. Additionally, local universities may have a compost pickup program available.

Despite not seeing a decrease in their trash bill, composting is still crucial, according to Click.

New at-home and on-the-street options

As composting grows in popularity, new products are emerging for consumers and local governments. For example, Mill, founded in 2020 by Matt Rogers and Harry Tannenbaum, creators of the Nest Learning Thermostat and other smart home products, offers a $1,000 bin that dries and grinds food scraps, eliminating odors in the process.

The bucket can hold dry grounds for weeks without needing to be emptied, and its contents can be used for composting or sent to the mill for chicken feed. People with food scraps collection programs in their cities can dispose of their at-home bin contents in designated collection bins. The filter needs to be replaced annually at a cost of $60, as stated by the company.

Bigbelly Solar has recently introduced a residential food waste collection program. The bins are designed for public spaces and do not require individual resident or building manager buy-in. Each bin can serve 100 residences and a mobile app is available for participants to locate and unlock them. Bigbelly is collaborating with municipalities, colleges, and universities to expand this program.

As society progresses, the taboo surrounding food waste is diminishing and it is becoming increasingly accepted.