Overview of Food Waste Composting in the U.S.

According to the State of Garbage, in 2006, forty-six of the fifty states reported tonnage data for “recycled” (composted or mulched) organics, including yard trimmings and food residuals, and/or wood (non-C&D). The total tonnage of organics composted or mulched was 20,368,139 tons in 2006 [1]. This amount represented 5% of estimated Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated in the U.S. (387 million tons).