EPA study looks beyond recycling for waste diversion

Jan. 27 -- A new study funded in part by the U.S. EPA, examines city-based composting as a method of waste diversion.

The Center for a Competitive Waste Industry examined composting programs in 121 cities in its study, "Beyond Recycling: Composting Food Scraps and Soiled Paper."

The 79-page report provides best practices for expanding beyond recycling and advice on processing food scraps, soiled paper and yard trimmings. These materials make up half of all household solid waste, according to the study authors, and up to 75% of it can be composted.

More cities are beginning to look at a centralized composting program as part of a residential recycling program. Some cities, like San Francisco, adopted mandatory organics composting along with recycling as an effort to reach Zero Waste and other waste reduction goals.

Other cities adopted the program as a way to protect groundwater from landfill leachate or to avoid high landfill costs.

The study found tipping and processing fees for composting organics was less expensive than landfilling or incineration. Organics processing fees ranged from $15 to $90 per ton, with an average of $44 per ton. Landfilling in those same communities varied from $16 to $115 per ton, with an average of $61 per ton. Three communities in the study reported use of incinerators. Fees for that disposal method, ranged from $45 to $140 per ton, with an average of $92 per ton.

The report discusses collection methods, residential programs and guidelines in place in the cities conducting the composting programs.

Cities included in the study reported increases in overall waste diversion rates and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and groundwater pollution threats.

Copies of the report are available at http://beyondrecycling.org/pdf_files/FinalReport.pdf

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Amanda Smith-Teutsch at 330-865-6166 or asmith-teutsch@crain.com