The U.S. EPA reports that organic food waste and yard trimmings accounted for 28% of the total mixed solid waste in the country in 2019.
When landfilled, these organics break down and release carbon dioxide and methane gas, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Capturing and diverting these materials at the source can substantially reduce GHG emissions from landfills.Instead of being landfilled, these materials can be anaerobically digested along with biosolids at wastewater treatment plants. Of the roughly 1,200 anaerobic digesters in operation in the U.S., many are significantly underloaded. By making use of that capacity, communities
