15+ Composting Statistics and Trends You Should Know in 2024

Growing a vegetable in the garden or backyard is far better than throwing away food, which may lead to waste generation. 

By doing so, gardening leads to a better and healthy environment, where composting is the best option. It is the natural way of recycling and creating fertile soil is the foundation of every garden. However, the benefits of composting are to help the environment, soil, economy, and overall health of the world. Composting is the best soil amendment for growing healthy vegetables and lets you save money. 

In case you are wondering about its stats and trends, here, we have curated a list of composting statistics and trends

Overview of Composting Statistics and Trends of 2024

The increase in demand for organic farm products is expected to boost during this forecast period. However, this statement is based on the announcement made by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. There has been an investment made of more than $30 million for 33 grants to all the farmers and ranchers who cultivate high-quality organic food and fiber. 

Top Composting Statistics in the US

Looking at the staggering facts, several states are taking action to curb food waste. Here are some of the concerning facts and figures that you should know about composting. 

• In the US, nearly 60 million tons of food is wasted annually. This is roughly 40% of the entire food supply in the US. 
• One of the surveys says, 72% of Americans do not compost food waste, but 67% of these would compost if it was convenient to do large-scale composting. 
• An average American family uses around 320 gallons of water per day 30% of which is used for gardening and lawn care. 
• Adding compost to the garden soil will hold up to 2.5 times more water than usual. 
• The per capita rates in 2018 for composting were 0.42 pounds per person/ day.
• The rate of yard trimming with grass clippings was 51.7% and 63% in 2018.
• 2.6 MT of food is composted each year with an increase of 2 tons each year since 2000.
• 34.6 million tons of MSW were combusted in 2018 through energy recovery. 
• With the new energy source, 22% of food MSW was combusted.
• One new business can be sustained by using 10,000 tons of finished compost.
• These compost, when collected annually, can sustain a minimum of 18 full-time jobs.
• Yard trimming made up 7.2% of MWS in landfills. 
• About 10.5 million tons of food wasted was disposed of.
• With a moisture content of 60%, microorganisms can break down compost easily.
• More than 50% of municipal waste is set out at the curb for composting.
• The municipal waste comprises 21% of food, 15% of paper and paper board, 8% of yard trimmings, and another 8% of wood waste.
• Composting can create thousands of jobs at each stage of recycling organic matter.
• Making compost alone on a per-ton basis employs 2x more workers in the landfills.
• There are around 185 composting facilities in the US that are privately owned.
• In the last 5 years, there is a 65% increase in composting programs worldwide. 

How Does Compost Usage Impact Energy Consumption?

Every year 800 tons of compost is purchased by landscapers. Composting is a natural way of recycling organic matter. It helps plants to grow with the help of manure, straw, leaves, and food scraps.

You can buy compost from nurseries or garden stores. Use compost mixes for potted plants and in garden beds. This adds nutrients to the sandy soil. The majority of food waste is thrown in landfills. Whereas, only 4.1% is composted. This discrepancy underscores the urgency to address the issue and raise awareness about the crucial role of composting. This is to divert organic materials from landfills and reduce harmful methane emissions.

Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 72 times more effective than carbon dioxide. Food waste is a huge waste but the major contribution depends on greenhouse gas emissions and weather change.  

Composting is a great way to reduce a household’s impact on the environment. It can also compensate for a household’s electricity each year. Home composting benefits in protecting watersheds and improving soil health by recycling nutrients into the ground for water retention. 

Alright, let’s find out which states release composting materials. 

Which US States Compost the Most? 

After considering all the facts, we collected some notable insights on the cities that are interested in making composting. We found some interesting details about the places in the country for composting. Let’s have a look at the image below.

Following such facts, now it’s time to understand the emerging trends of composting. 

Top 5 Composting Trends in 2023

1. Releasing organic materials out of the landfill

The 2010s demonstrated, in a manner that was analogous to the latter part of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, that landfill disposal bans or mandates are useful instruments for directing organics toward facilities for composting and anaerobic digestion (AD).

2. Growth in food scraps collection and delivery

Numerous companies and organizations have emerged to offer food scrap collection and delivery services to capitalize on this growing interest in composting. These services typically involve providing customers with designated bins or containers to collect their food waste. Once filled, the containers are picked up on a regular schedule for processing.

3. Advances in compost market development

Carbon “cultivating” in California, state and neighborhood government fertilizer acquirement rules, and a general accentuation on soil wellbeing are helping manure markets. In any case, in certain areas, improvement of different fertilizing soil offices because of food squander boycotts and reusing pressures requires the development of fertilizer markets.

4. Reducing food wastage 

In the 2010s, awareness of food wasted was booming. To increase that, programs like food recovery and food source reduction were being implemented. The organic material that cannot be consumed was then managed by the recyclers.

5. Dealing with contamination 

Expanded business and private food squander reusing has likewise shown up with expanded tainting, particularly from plastic film and bundling. The rise in collection programs and mandatory bans on disposal may accelerate this trend. Facilities are ready to deal with that reality—or are getting ready to.

Conclusion

Statistics on composting show that municipal and county governments as a whole. Even private citizens are increasingly aware of the significance of preventing food scraps and yard waste from entering landfills. The world can improve its future and reduce emissions into the atmosphere by recycling and composting.

Composting has numerous advantages for both homes and businesses. Despite this, there is still a lack of infrastructure for composting food scraps. Many cities are already recovering yard trimmings, but there is still work to be done.