The Rise of Composting in the United States

From Scraps to Systems: The Rise of Composting in the United States

Not long ago, composting in the United States was largely a backyard activity—something associated with gardeners, environmental enthusiasts, and small community projects. Today, it’s rapidly becoming a mainstream part of municipal waste systems. Across the country, cities are rethinking what we throw away, and curbside organic waste pickup is emerging as one of the most visible signs of that shift.

At the center of this movement are major urban programs in places like New York City and California, where composting is no longer optional—it’s becoming infrastructure.

Why Composting Is Having a Moment

The rise of composting in the U.S. is tied to a simple realization that a huge portion of what Americans throw away is not really “waste.” Organic material—food scraps, yard trimmings, and food-soiled paper—makes up a significant share of the trash stream. In New York City alone, organic waste accounts for roughly a third of residential waste

When this material is buried in landfills, it produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. But when composted, it becomes a valuable resource—enriching soil, supporting agriculture, and reducing emissions. That dual benefit—waste reduction and climate action—has made composting increasingly attractive to policymakers.

The Shift to Curbside Collection

The biggest change in recent years isn’t just more people composting—it’s how they’re doing it. Instead of relying on voluntary drop-off sites or backyard bins, cities are building composting into everyday life through curbside pickup.

This mirrors the evolution of recycling decades ago. What was once an individual choice is becoming a standardized public service.

New York City: Scaling Up Fast

New York City’s composting program is one of the most ambitious in the country. After years of pilot programs and interruptions during the pandemic, the city rolled out curbside composting across all five boroughs—and as of April 2025, separating organic waste became mandatory for residents. ()

The early results show both momentum and growing pains:

• In just one week in November 2025, the city collected over 6 million pounds of compostable material, setting new records.
• Processing capacity has expanded dramatically, with facilities now able to handle over 60 million pounds of food waste annually
• Participation is rising, with residential capture rates climbing above 10% in some months, though still far below long-term goals

The scale is enormous: millions of residents, dense housing, and complex logistics. Yet the city is pushing forward, betting that normalization—making composting as routine as taking out the trash—will drive adoption over time.

California: The Policy Pioneer

While New York is scaling up quickly, California has been laying the groundwork for years. The state has taken a regulatory approach, passing laws that require residents and businesses to separate organic waste.

California’s statewide mandate (SB 1383), which took effect in 2022, requires jurisdictions to provide organic waste collection services to residents and businesses. The goal is to dramatically reduce landfill disposal and cut methane emissions.

What sets California apart is its consistency: rather than city-by-city experimentation, it has created a unified system across hundreds of municipalities. In many communities, curbside compost bins are now as standard as recycling bins—green carts sitting next to blue and black ones.

Why Curbside Composting Matters

Curbside programs are key to the rise of composting because they remove friction. Instead of asking people to go out of their way, they integrate composting into existing habits.

This shift has several important effects:

• Higher participation: Convenience leads to more consistent behavior
• Larger impact: Municipal programs can divert millions of tons of waste
• Cultural normalization: Composting becomes an expectation, not an exception

In short, curbside pickup transforms composting from a niche activity into public infrastructure.

Challenges Along the Way

Despite its growth, composting isn’t without controversy or obstacles.

In New York City, participation rates are still relatively low compared to leading cities like Seattle, and enforcement has proven complicated. () Critics also point to costs, logistical complexity, and concerns about pests or contamination. ()

Even supporters acknowledge that behavior change takes time. Sorting waste correctly, especially in dense urban environments, requires education, clear systems, and sustained effort.

A Cultural Shift in Progress

What’s happening in New York, California, and other parts of the country reflects a broader shift in how Americans think about waste. The linear model—consume, discard, forget—is slowly being replaced by a circular one, where materials are reused and regenerated.

Composting sits at the heart of that transformation. It challenges the idea that food scraps are useless and instead frames them as part of a larger ecological cycle.

The Future of Composting in the U.S.

As more cities adopt curbside organic waste pickup, composting is likely to follow the trajectory of recycling: uneven at first, then increasingly standardized.

The real story isn’t just about bins or policies—it’s about habits. When millions of people begin separating their food scraps every day, it signals a deeper change in how society values resources.

Composting, once a quiet, backyard practice, is becoming a defining feature of modern urban life. And in that shift, something as small as a banana peel is helping reshape the future of waste in America.