For a long time, one major challenge to reducing food waste in the U.S. has been limited access to composting. However, recent research shows a promising trend: access to composting programs in cities has increased from 27% in 2020 to nearly 36% today—a rise of 8.9 percentage points. This change is a step forward in tackling food waste, which significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Food waste generates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that is released when organic material decomposes in landfills. In fact, food waste accounts for a staggering 58% of methane emissions from landfills, equivalent to the emissions from about 50 million passenger vehicles. By composting, we can divert this waste and enrich our soil, while also supporting carbon sequestration—an essential process for combating climate change.
Despite these gains, we need more data to increase composting’s effectiveness. Understanding where composting programs exist and what materials can be composted is crucial for encouraging more people to participate. This knowledge will also inform whether compostable packaging can be widely used across the country.
There are different types of composting access out there:
- Municipal curbside programs: These are administered by local governments, making them straightforward for residents who already use other waste services.
- Private curbside programs: Run by private companies, these often come with a monthly subscription fee (around $30) and rely on dedicated participants.
- Drop-off programs: Managed by either municipalities or private firms, these are often free and provide multiple drop-off locations for residents.
Over the last five years, organizations like GreenBlue have tracked composting access in major U.S. cities. They initially focused on the 1,000 most populous cities, representing about 40% of the U.S. population. Now, an expanded dataset covers 6,233 cities, revealing that:
- 17.8% of the U.S. population can access programs that only accept food waste, showing slight growth since 2020.
- 18.1% of the population can access programs that accept both food waste and some compostable packaging—a significant increase from 11% in 2020.
- In total, nearly 36% of the population can use some type of composting program, up from 27% just three years ago.
While this growth is encouraging, there’s still much work to be done. To truly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, more cities and private companies need to offer composting services. Advocacy from businesses is essential; the US Composting Council and the Biodegradable Products Institute are key resources for pushing for more composting infrastructure.
Yet, let’s take a moment to celebrate the progress made. Composting is not just a trendy, eco-friendly choice—it’s an effective waste management strategy that strengthens local soils and economies. By investing in composting initiatives, companies can contribute to climate solutions while nurturing their communities.
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