Composting could be set for U.S. boom, and it needs one, decades behind recycling

6 comments

1. Some states, municipalities and private-sector companies are pushing to make composting as commonplace as recycling. But it’s a long-haul effort.

   Composting has many benefits for the environment. It keeps food out of landfills, leading national food chains including [Chipotle to expand its use](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/18/chipotle-wants-you-to-think-before-tossing-your-burrito-bowl-in-trash.html) at restaurants, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Composted materials improve soil health, expand the soil’s ability to store carbon and reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides, which has led major packaged food companies, [including PepsiCo](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/19/how-pepsico-is-trying-to-get-doritos-cheetos-bags-into-compost-bins.html), to explore how to create more compostable packaging.

   Yet data from the Environmental Protection Agency shows [little residential food waste is composted](https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-04/2019-wasted-food-report_508_opt_ec_4.23correction.pdf) in the U.S. — 3.7% as of an April 2023 report. Interest in composting, however, is picking up, and environmental professionals predict it will be even more prevalent over the next five to 10 years.

   Read more: [https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/29/composting-food-waste-set-for-boom-decades-behind-recycling.html](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/29/composting-food-waste-set-for-boom-decades-behind-recycling.html)

2. I wanted to start at home but I live in an apartment. I looked at some of the machines but then found out they all want subscriptions.

   Right now I’m saving leftover veggie scraps to make stock but then I still have the solids. I’d love to find a way to compost effectively in my current situation.

3. this would be huge in general. keep most of this out of landfills and start making some nice soil to reuse.

4. The US wastes like 40 percent of its food, I’d like to see it at least recovered more instead of ending up in a landfill. When even food gets to a landfill it takes longer to decompose. Also the more we recycle and compost, the more jobs are created

5. I pay for pickup by the city. Now if only they would pick it up on a regular basis.

6. My city started a composting program and it has been great. I’ve noticed that our average weekly trash load is much smaller now that all food/plant waste goes to the compost bin.

   That being said, it’s going to be more difficult to have compost programs for people living inside apartments who don’t have street side bin programs. Unless their building specifically has massive compost bin that is managed well nobody is going to want to keep compost inside their apartment.

   Compost is extremely smelly and gross especially in the summer and I probably wouldn’t do it if I didn’t have a patio outside.