The State of Composting Facilities in the U.S.

As of recent data, the U.S. hosts approximately 4,700 composting facilities. However, only about 5% of these facilities accept food scraps, focusing primarily on yard trimmings and other organic materials.American Sustainable Business NetworkThis limited capacity poses a significant challenge, considering that food waste constitutes a substantial portion of municipal solid waste.

key take aways:

30–40% of food produced in the U.S. is wasted, contributing to over 20% of landfill volume.Landfills are the third-largest source of methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.Without adequate composting infrastructure, food waste that could enrich soil instead creates environmental harm.

Challenges Facing Composting Infrastructure

Limited Acceptance of Food Waste: The majority of composting facilities are not equipped to process food scraps, which limits the diversion of organic waste from landfills.
 American Sustainable Business NetworkContamination Issues: Facilities that do accept food waste often grapple with contamination from non-compostable materials, complicating the composting process and affecting the quality of the end product.  Closed Loop PartnersRegulatory and Economic Hurdles: Establishing new composting facilities involves navigating complex regulations and securing substantial capital investment, which can deter expansion efforts.Public Awareness and Participation: Effective composting programs require public understanding and engagement, which can be inconsistent across different regions.

What Needs to Change

Solving America’s composting crisis will require systemic change, including

Expanding Composting Facilities: More investment is needed to build industrial facilities capable of handling food waste and compostable products.Education: Consumers need better guidance on what can and cannot be composted.Policy Support: Governments must incentivize composting initiatives and provide funding for infrastructure.Programs like the Baltimore Compost Collective and national coalitions like the U.S. Composting Council are working toward these goals, but there’s still a long way to go.

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