Top: Food waste drop-off site in Central Ohio. Photo courtesy Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO)

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) released new data on U.S. municipal organics recycling programs, revealing a substantial increase in public access across the country to food waste collection. According to the new research, 35.9% of the sampled U.S. population now has collection access, an 8.9 percentage point increase since the SPC’s 2020 findings of 27% access.

Presented by SPC Director Olga Kachook at the SPC Advance conference in early October, the findings are based on an expanded dataset that broadened the scope of the study. The current research covered 6,233 of the nation’s largest cities, up from 1,000 in 2020, representing a significant sample of 60% of the U.S. population, explained Kachook. The data further segments access into two categories: 17.8% of the sampled population has access to programs accepting food waste only, while a slightly higher 18.1% can utilize programs that accept both food waste and some forms of certified compostable packaging. The distinction is vital for brands designing for a circular economy. “This increase in access to composting programs means more companies and consumers have options for diverting their food waste — and certified compostable packaging — from landfills,” she noted.

While the progress is highly encouraging, the SPC stresses that the journey is far from complete. Substantial, continued efforts are required from municipalities, private haulers, and businesses to significantly expand composting infrastructure, improve accessibility for all residents, and ensure the wider acceptance of compostable packaging.

In 2023, BioCycle updated its data on residential access to food waste collection in the U.S. A total of 400 programs, encompassing 710 communities were identified. The number of households in the U.S. with access was 14.9 million in 2023.