Key Trends in Recycling, Composting, and the Circular Economy: Part Two

By Ushma Pandya

Part 2:  Composting Trends

Photo by Charles Bayrer, courtesy of Earth Matter - a community compost site in NYC

In 2024, food waste management took a big step forward, with composting leading the way in sustainability efforts. As communities see the environmental and economic benefits of diverting organic waste from landfills, more composting programs are being introduced.

While composting is widely recognized as a way to manage food waste, it’s not the only solution. Anaerobic digestion offers an alternative approach with its own benefits. Understanding the differences between these two methods sheds light on how food waste can be processed more efficiently and sustainably.

• Composting is an aerobic process, meaning it needs oxygen. Microorganisms break down food scraps in the presence of oxygen, creating heat, carbon dioxide, and nutrient-rich compost that can be used to improve soil. Composting can be done on various scales, from individual backyard bins to large industrial facilities. 

• Anaerobic digestion, on the other hand, happens without oxygen. In this process, microorganisms break down organic matter in sealed tanks, producing biogas (mainly methane) for energy and a byproduct called digestate that can be used as fertilizer. Anaerobic digestion is commonly employed in large-scale operations, such as municipal waste management systems and agricultural settings, due to its ability to handle substantial volumes of organic waste and generate energy.

1. Expansion of Curbside Composting Programs - Residential

Cities are increasingly introducing or expanding curbside composting programs to reduce food waste. With more policies requiring organic waste separation, businesses are also being pushed to compost food scraps rather than send them to landfills. Here are some cities leading the way:

New York, New York: In October 2024, NYC launched a mandatory composting program across all five boroughs, requiring residents to separate food and garden scraps. The compost is repurposed for heating homes and landscaping. This citywide rollout follows launches in Queens in 2022 and Brooklyn in 2023. 

Long Beach, California: Starting in October 2024, Long Beach rolled out its Residential Organics Collection Program to meet Senate Bill 1383, aiming for a 75% reduction in organic waste by 2025. Residents are given green carts for yard waste and food scraps, with full implementation by the end of 2025.

Houston, Texas: In August 2024, Houston’s City Council approved a plan to apply for a $400,000 USDA grant to expand composting services and improve waste diversion from landfills.

While curbside composting is expanding, cities face challenges like infrastructure limitations, contamination, and high operational costs:

• Infrastructure Challenges: Many composting facilities can’t process all compostable materials. Some only accept yard waste, excluding food scraps. To address this, cities are securing grants to improve their composting infrastructure. For example, New Haven received a $3.3 million grant to construct a modern food scrap diversion sorting facility at the New Haven Transfer Station. This facility will support a citywide residential curbside composting and food scrap diversion program.

  
  

• Contamination Issues: Non-compostable items, like mislabeled "biodegradable" products, often contaminate compost streams. This can disrupt composting processes and increase costs, as seen in Australia. Misleading labeling of products has resulted in plastic contamination in otherwise healthy compost.  

  
  

• High Operational Costs & Education Needs: Setting up and maintaining composting programs is costly. High operational expenses and lack of public awareness are significant barriers. Long Beach is tackling this with a broad educational campaign, sending mailers in multiple languages, testing door-to-door visits, and launching a "neighborhood champion" initiative to encourage participation and reduce contamination.

2. Community Composting and Decentralized Systems - Big Part of the System!

Decentralized composting initiatives are growing, especially in urban areas where large-scale facilities may not be feasible. Community composting hubs and neighborhood drop-off sites allow residents to participate in composting even if they lack personal space for it.

Benefits of Community Composting:

• Increases Access to Composting: Community programs make composting available to people who lack personal space, such as apartment dwellers.

  
  

• Strengthens Local Food Systems: Many programs donate finished compost to urban farms, school gardens, and local green spaces, improving soil health and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.

  
  

• Builds Community Engagement: Composting locally fosters environmental awareness and encourages sustainable practices.

  
  

• Reduces Emissions and Pollution: By keeping organic waste out of landfills, community composting lowers methane emissions and supports climate goals.

Community Composting Supports Curbside Programs: 

Community composting supports curbside programs by reducing the load on municipal facilities. By processing waste locally, it cuts down on transport costs and produces cleaner compost with fewer contaminants. These smaller programs also serve as an educational tool, helping residents get into good composting habits and raising awareness for curbside options. In areas without curbside composting, community hubs offer a way to keep organic waste out of landfills.

3. Compostable Packaging Goes Mainstream (Somewhat?)

As concerns about plastic pollution rise, businesses are turning to compostable packaging alternatives. In 2024, more food and beverage companies are using compostable packaging that can break down in industrial composting facilities. 

However, challenges remain, such as ensuring proper labeling and infrastructure to process these materials effectively and most importantly, many composting facilities DO NOT ACCEPT these materials (which defeats the point).

For example, Denver's composting program excludes compostable packaging, and Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has raised concerns about the effectiveness of compostable packaging, questioning whether it truly benefits the environment. They issued a public message stating they are moving away from accepting compostable packaging to focus on recycling organic waste. 

Mislabeling is another issue. Packaging labeled "compostable" is often bioplastic, which needs specific conditions to break down—conditions that most composting facilities can’t provide. This leads to consumer confusion, resulting in incorrect disposal and contamination of compost and recycling

Additionally, compostable packaging can overwhelm facilities because it takes longer to break down than food scraps.  This strains facilities, which must divert resources to manage these materials, increasing costs.

4. Innovations in Composting Technology

Technological advancements are making composting faster and more efficient. 

 One key advancement is aerobic digesters, which speed up the breakdown of organic waste. Unlike traditional composting, which takes weeks or months, these systems can create high-quality compost in just a few days. This is great for businesses and municipalities looking to reduce landfill waste.

Princeton University installed an aerobic in-vessel composting system, known as a biodigester, to convert campus food scraps into nutrient-rich compost. This system processes up to 500 pounds of food waste daily, significantly reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills and supporting the university's sustainability initiatives.

Startups and research groups are also exploring microbial solutions to boost composting. These involve using bacteria and fungi to break down organic materials more efficiently. The result is faster composting and richer, nutrient-dense soil, which benefits crop growth.

Wrap Up

As sustainability efforts continue to evolve, composting is playing a crucial role in reducing food waste and improving soil health. The expansion of curbside programs, growth of community composting, adoption of compostable packaging, and innovations in composting technology are shaping the future of organic waste management. However, challenges such as infrastructure limitations, consumer education, and technological adoption must be addressed to maximize composting’s impact. By supporting policies, businesses, and local initiatives that promote effective composting solutions, individuals and communities can contribute to a more sustainable and circular food system.