TO: COR Compost

FROM: The Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research

DATE: January 28, 2021

SUBJECT: Composting Industry Overview

The waste disposal industry considers the majority of the items thrown out by households and
businesses as municipal solid waste. In 2018, the United States generated 292.4 million tons of
municipal solid waste. From this total, 21.6 percent is food waste, 12.1 percent is yard
trimmings, and 6.2 is wood waste, which means that 39.9 percent of total waste is organic
materials. Most of these organic materials could be composted, which puts the waste to use,
rather than taking up space in a local or regional landfill.1

Nationally managing all of this waste has become a $51.6 billion industry that employs 217,856
people.2 Within the industry, 50 percent of the household waste processed by participants in
this sector goes into a landfill, with only 8.5 percent being composted. Even with composting, a
small share of the MSW waste stream, this method of waste disposal is still processing millions
of tons of waste on an annual basis.

In the United States, 24.89 million tons of food and yard trimming are being composted out of
an available 98.53 million tons. The majority of waste being composted is yard trimmings, with
food waste coming in a distant second. This figure only covers materials that are being
managed by a processor, thereby excluding all individuals who are composting their waste at
home.3 This illustrates that the composting industry is a developing segment of the MSW
processing industry. The composting industry is a potential way to reduce the demand for
landfill space in the future. By reducing this demand, it is possible to extend the useable life of
existing landfills and reduce the overall need for a replacement landfill site. This could be a
cost-saver for local governments that operate a landfill.

The City of Savannah has operated a landfill on Dean Forest Road since 1984. Due to a recent
expansion, this landfill could last into the mid-2030s. Expanding the landfill does come at a cost

1
Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Fact Sheet. (2020, November). Retrieved January 13, 2021,
from https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-11/documents/2018_ff_fact_sheet.pdf
2
Waste Collection Services in the US. (2020, October 27). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from
https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/waste-collection-services-industry/
3
Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Fact Sheet. (2020, November). Retrieved January 13, 2021,
from https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-11/documents/2018_ff_fact_sheet.pdf

1
for the City of Savannah.4 In 2018, the City of Savannah added a new cell to the Dean Forest
Road landfill at a construction cost of $28 million.5 Using 2016 data, this landfill takes in about
87,000 tons of MSW per year, with about 70 percent of the collection being organic waste.
Within the organic waste stream, 37.4 percent is food, 13.6 percent is wood, 12.5 percent is
paper, and 6.5 is cardboard.6 By removing some food waste from the landfill, it could be
possible to extend the useful life of the city’s landfill, thereby saving the City of Savannah staff
time in looking for alternative waste disposal solutions and the funds needed to transport MSW
out of Chatham County. By working to extend the life of the landfill, the City of Savannah can
use some of the non-allocated funds to expand landfill for other purposes. This could result in
an additional building project being completed before the next landfill-related project begins.

Within the remainder of this memo will be four areas of focus. The first section examines how
these compostable materials are being collected and managed. Next, the memo will discuss the
benefits of purchasing and using compost. Then, the team will highlight the regional benefits of
composting. Finally, the memo will discuss the typical cost of purchasing compost and how
these could benefit Savannah.

Collection of Compostable Materials

Typically, compostable materials are collected using two different processes: curbside pickup or
a drop-off center. Curbside pickup allows businesses and residences to follow a familiar pattern
of scheduled trash pickup times. While a drop-off center(s) collect(s) waste at one or more
specific location(s), these points can include recycling centers, farmers’ markets, or other
community-based facilities. For residential programs, curbside collection efforts collect more
waste weekly (averaging 25–30 pounds per participant ) and drop-off locations collect less
waste (around 3–4 pounds per participant weekly), but drop-off center(s) are more cost
effective for the operating business or organization.7 COR Compost has used both collection
methods with the curbside collections being used by business customers and drop-off centers
providing access to household clients.

4
Curl, E. (2018, July 16). Savannah Landfill Expansion $11 Million Short. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from
https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20180715/savannah-landfill-expansion-11-million-short
5
Evans, S. (2018, July 17). City of Savannah Getting Ready to Expand Landfill off Dean Forest Road. Retrieved
January 12, 2021, from https://www.wtoc.com/story/38666751/city-of-savannah-getting-ready-to-expand-
landfill-off-dean-forest-road/
6
Steinlechner, P. (2016). Landfill Energy Capture Project. Retrieved January 13, 2021, from
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/559921a3e4b02c1d7480f8f4/t/596c9ee937c5813ffa0ce3b8/15002907
99539/Steinlechner+Philipp+637.pdf
7
Bradford, Abigail, Sundby, Johathhan SHOULD THIS BE “Jonathan”?, Truelove, Alexander, and Andre, Adair.
(Summer 2019) Compositng in America. U.S., Pirg Education Fund and Frontier Group, retrieved from
https://uspirg.org/reports/usp/composting-america

2
 In 2017, about 215 communities offered a municipally-supported composting program with
about 2/3 of programs using curbside pickup and 1/3 employing the drop-off center method.8
These residential projects were typically voluntary, charged an additional fee, and operated
year-round. Business collection typically followed a similar pattern with the exception that the
drop-off location method is not used for this group. Businesses that purchased this voluntary
waste disposal service were typically “high-food” users and still purchased a waste collection
service to dispose of items that were not compostable.9 An example of high food users
businesses are restaurants where food waste can account for 84 percent of the standard waste
stream, according the Business for Social Responsibility group.10

Building on this finding, the National Restaurant Association is working to help its members
reduce food waste, which includes using composting as part of their waste disposal process.
Food waste is typically very heavy since it is made up of 21 percent water,11 which increases the
cost of moving it to the landfill.12 This heavier waste results in a higher tipping fee being
charged when the waste reaches the landfill. Tipping fees are charged by landfills on a per ton
basis, which means that businesses that reduce the weight of their waste should be able to
save on disposal costs.

In addition, communities can also benefit in both short-term, as well as long-term ways from
developing a composting industry. These short-term benefits include reduced landfill waste
inputs, reduced need for chemical fertilizers when the compost is used locally, and healthier
soil that supports better plant/crop growth. In the long-term, using composted soil locally can
help to rebuild forests and wetlands. In addition, new jobs are created when compost is created
and used locally.13 In the MSW industry in the United States with about one-third of waste
being recycled, 37 percent of MSW jobs are linked to collecting of recycling and 45 percent of
MSW jobs linked to manufacturing and composting.14 For every million tons of compostable
waste being composted, 1,400 new full-time jobs could be created. Most of these jobs pay

8
Ibid
9
http://www.foodscrapsrecovery.com/EPA_FoodWasteReport_EI_Region5_v11_Final.pdf
10
Analysis of U.S. Food Waste Among Food Manufacturers, Retailers, and Restaurants. (2014). Retrieved January
13, 2021, from https://foodwastealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/FWRA_BSR_Tier3_FINAL.pdf
11
James, K. (2016, April 7). Why Food Waste Means Water Waste. Retrieved January 20, 2021, from
https://www.ceres.org/news-center/blog/why-food-waste-means-water-waste
12
NRA- Cut Food Waste. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://conserve.restaurant.org/Best-
Practices/Reducing-Food-Waste
13
Hatanaka, M., RDN, L.D. (2020, January 27). Composting: Benefits, How-to, and More. Retrieved January 25,
2021, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/composting-benefits
14
Zero Waste Creates Jobs. (2016). Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://www.ecocycle.org/zerowaste/jobs

3
between $16 and $20. Overall, composting creates three times more jobs than landfills and up
to 17 times more jobs than incinerators.15
Local governments benefit by cutting down on landfill usage and, therefore, methane
emissions, allowing them to divert their time and funding elsewhere.16 Methane is bad for
communities because it increases air pollution and lowers air quality and increases smog. Lower
air quality can lead to respiratory issues, especially for children and the elderly, as well as
emitting an unpleasant smell when mixed with other landfill gases.17 Landfill gas emissions
create 17.7 percent of all U.S. methane emissions per year.18
Cities that have implemented composting programs have had good results when using either a
private collection company or municipal collection programs. Listed next are four cities that
have successfully engaged in a composting program.

Jersey City, New Jersey

After the launch of Sustainable Jersey City in 2011, Melissa Kozakiewicz had an idea to launch a
citywide compost program in 2018. Since the beginning of the program in 2018, Jersey City has
collected more than 50,000 pounds of disposable waste that would have been sent to a landfill.
Instead, the waste is used to fertilize public and private gardens. The program is voluntary and
encourages Jersey City residents to do what they can to help the environment. The 11 compost
drop off sites permit residents to take a 5-gallon bucket of compost to the location and return
home with an equal amount of processed material. The city benefits by cutting down the
amount of landfill waste, therefore, saving money in the long run.

In 2018, the city invested roughly $15,000 into three gardens with composting systems. Since
then, it has expanded to 11 compost drop-off sites, with the goal of adding compost pickup via
electric bike. This program is completely free to residents, and volunteers are incentivized to
collect compost from residents.19

15
Hermes, J. (2013, May 13). Report: Composting Could Create Two Times as Many Jobs as Landfilling.
Retrieved January 25, 2021, from https://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/05/report-composting-
food-scraps-clippings-could-create-2x-as-many-jobs-as-landfilling/
16
Platt, B., McSweeney, J., & Davis, J. (2014, April). Growing Local Fertility: A Guide to Community
Composting. Retrieved January 13, 2021, from https://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/growing-
local-fertility.pdf
17
Methane Pollution from the Oil & Gas Industry Harms Public Health. (n.d.). Retrieved January 25, 2021, from
https://www.edf.org/sites/default/files/content/methane_rule_health_fact_sheet_reboot_final_
no_citations.pdf
18
Pierson, R. (2013, April 26). Fact Sheet - Landfill Methane (1157324677 869432576 J. Cross, Ed.). Retrieved
January 19, 2021, from https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-landfill-methane
19
Whitehead, S., Dr. (2020, September 16). Jersey City’s Composting Program Expands During a Pandemic.
Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/jersey-citys-composting-program-
expands-during-a-pandemic

4
Boulder, Colorado
In 2009, Boulder began its curbside collection program and has since expanded into a zero-
waste city. In 2019, Boulder recycled or composted 50 percent of its waste and looks to expand
to 85 percent by 2025. The program is not voluntary, and trash hauling services are required to
provide curbside compost services at no additional charge. Boulder strives to be a zero-waste
city, so, by providing curbside compost pickup, it both reduces waste going to landfills as well as
gets closer to accomplishing the city’s goal. The program costs users whatever they would be
paying for trash removal services because composting is included with trash removal. 20

Durham, North Carolina

In Summer 2019, Durham started a compost collection prototype for eight households. A
participant of the prototype expressed how easily her family picked up the composting practice.
Durham hopes to divert one-third of its waste away from its landfill and create fertilizer for
local farmers, landscapers, and resident gardeners. The program is currently funded by a grant
from Bloomberg Philanthropies and is voluntary for those selected to participate. From
composting, Durham will alleviate pressure on its landfill and provide fertilizer to local farmers,
landscapers, and gardeners; therefore, helping the local economy. Since the program is funded
through a grant, Durham does not currently have any costs. The program is currently free for
those selected to participate; however, it is not certain if the city will charge residents when it is
fully implemented. The response was great, and Durham has expanded its composting program
to include curbside pickup with plans to implement backyard composting.21

Falls Church, Virginia

The Compost Crew operates a voluntary composting program in Falls Church. The firm offers a
pickup service, as well as operating a drop-off location. It offers a 5-gallon bucket and a 12-
gallon bin, depending on the customer’s composting needs. For $6/month or $66/year, The
Compost Crew providesa container and picks up compostable waste weekly. When subscribed
to the monthly service, Falls Church residents also have unlimited access to a centrally-located
drop-off location. The Compost Crew is a private company; however, the City of Falls Church
incentivizes residents to participate by paying for the first six months of a new member’s fees.
In addition to composting services, The Compost Crew provides bags, cleans bins weekly, and
gives subscribers one bag of compost per month.22

20
Zero Waste Regulations. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://bouldercolorado.gov/zero-
waste/regulations
21
Garbage in, Insights out: What Every City Can Learn from Durham's Composting Prototype. (2019, October
2). Bloomberg Cities. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://bloombergcities.medium.com/garbage-in-
insights-out-what-every-city-can-learn-from-durhams-composting-prototype-32e4982fc778
22
Falls Church. (n.d.). Retrieved January 25, 2021, from https://compostcrew.com/fallschurch/

5
These examples show that several communities are currently supporting voluntary private
collection of food waste. Also highlighted are examples of communities that are using either
drop-off locations or curbside pickup of food waste. The next section will discuss what happens
when food waste is converted into compost and how both the public and private sectors are
benefitting from this process.

Benefits of Purchasing and Using Compost

Federal, state, and local governments, along with private businesses, purchase finished
compost. Within the public sector, state departments of transportation, environmental
agencies, and park managers are examples of governmental units that purchase compost.
While in the private sector, landscapers, agriculture-based businesses and retailers are some of
the most common purchasers of composted materials.23
Compost has more uses than simply feeding plant growth. Although it can be used to enhance
the makeup of the soil on site, it also aids with effort to control the flows of water on and off of
a target area. The bullet points show composted materials have more dynamic uses than this
simple explanation would suggest.
Why do communities and businesses purchase compost?24
• Prevents Soil Erosion–increases infiltration, slowing water flow, and binding soil
together
• Assists in Storm Water Management–by its ability to absorb and infiltrate more water
• Promotes Healthier Plant Growth–balances soil density, enriches soil with valuable
nutrients, balances the pH level of soil, absorbs more water to prevent plants from
drying out, suppresses pests and diseases, and discourages weeds
• Conserves Water–reduces run-off by better absorbing storm water due to porous
infiltration
• Reduces Waste–diverts compostable materials from landfills
• Combats Climate Change–by reducing landfill gas emissions, absorbing greenhouse
gases due to healthier plants, and increasing resilience to climate change by absorbing
and holding onto more water
• Reduces Project Maintenance Costs–reducing re-planting and irrigation costs
• Improves Soil Health–provides biological benefits by increasing beneficial microbes,
chemical benefits by binding heavy metals and other contaminants, and structural
benefits by increasing humus formation

23
Alexander, R. (2011, September 19). Selling Compost to the Landscape Industry. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from
https://www.biocycle.net/selling-compost-to-the-landscape-industry/
24
Benefits of Compost. (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2021, from
https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/CompostBenefits?&hhsearchterms=%22costs%22

6
 • Assists in Wetland Reclamation–by acting as a pollutant filter to wetlands and creating
new wetlands due to the highly organic material needed to start a wetland

It only takes a small amount of composted materials to aid with water absorption into the soil.
By adding this material to the soil, it could reduce the amount of runoff coming off of an urban
area. When just 1 pound of compost is mixed into 100 pounds of average soil, the compostable
soil mix will retain 33 more pounds of water, and, when 5 pounds of compost is mixed into 100
pounds of average soil, the compostable soil mix will hold 200 more pounds of water.25 This is
another way that using compost could benefit local government’s effort to use less fresh water.

Regional Benefits of Composting

One of the best input goods for creating high quality compost is food waste because food waste
contains high amounts of nutrients and food waste is easily accessible, as the average U.S.
household wastes 31.9 percent of its food.26 By contrast, when this waste is sent to a landfill, it
can be a driver of landfill gas development, which is one of the potential negative
consequences of using traditional waste disposal techniques.
When organic waste, which includes food waste, is buried, it begins to breakdown using an
inorganic process. A byproduct of this process is the production of a high level of methane. The
amount of methane produced is well above levels found within the same waste when exposed
to air during decomposition. Methane, along with other landfill gases emitted, smells foul and
can spread miles away from the landfill depending on the weather. An example of how this gas
emission can impact local residents was noted in late 2018. Residents surrounding Superior
Landfill in Chatham County reported an odor had been emitted from the landfill that
compromised their quality of life. Along with the smell, residents also complained about poor
air quality due to the emissions. This led some residents to raise health concerns about the
smell and the landfill.27
It is possible to control landfill gas emissions through venting these gases regularly. To simply
flare the gas, landfill managers need one gas extraction well for every 100 acres of landfill.28

25
Did You Know That Compost Saves Water? (2017, February 21). Retrieved January 25, 2021, from
https://www.solanacenter.org/news/blog/did-you-know-compost-saves-
water#:~:text=A%20hundred%20pounds%20of%20average,(25%20gallons)%20of%20water!
26
Bandoim, L. (2020, January 27). The Shocking Amount of Food U.S. Households Waste Every Year. Retrieved
January 25, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/lanabandoim/2020/01/26/the-shocking-amount-of-
food-us-households-waste-every-year/?sh=2c924af17dc8
27
Gazaway, W. (2018, December 18). Asked and Answered: Stopping Bad Odor from Landfill. Retrieved January 13,
2021, from https://www.wtoc.com/2018/12/17/wtoc-investigates-stopping-bad-odor-landfill/
28
Duffy, D. (2019, February 7). Day to Day. Retrieved January 13, 2021, from https://www.mswmanagement.com/
landfills/article/13036124/day-to-day

7
This method can control the some of the odors, but it comes with environment cost. This does
not start to address any future landfill capacity issues. According to a bulletin from The
University of Georgia Extension service, within 10 years, 62 percent of Georgia’s current
landfills are scheduled for closure.29 This means that it could be important to start planning for
new ways to dispose of waste.

In addition to the environmental benefits of composting, being seen as a forward-looking and

environmentally-conscious community has other benefits. Many members of the Millennial and
Gen Z generations want to help make our world more environmentally sustainable. Within this
generation, 75 percent of millennials have altered their spending behaviors to accommodate a
more sustainable future. As part of this behavior, both generations are looking for cities that
are willing to prioritize and accelerate ecological solutions.30

Typical Cost to Purchase Compost

The Georgia Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers 2019 report card noted that
promoting recycling programs is a necessary step to support the solid waste collection system
in Georgia.31 One way that local governments can help to promote the development of
composting industry is to purchase compost for projects that require soil. Two examples of this
type of program come from New York and Washington State. The New York Department of
Transportation requires that, when a construction project results in the need to do landscape
restoration, composted materials must be included in the soil mix.32 King County, Washington,
has developed a pilot to test the use of compost on a closed landfill and parkland restoration
projects. The county has worked to educate staff and the community of the uses for compost.33

Meanwhile, in the City of Savannah, the existing $1.6 million contract for landfill covering
material approved in 2018 was extended through 2021, at a cost to expand of $175,000. This is
the second of three available extensions. This means that the City of Savannah is already

29
Food Waste Composting: Institutional and Industrial Applications???. (2017, January 17). Retrieved January 25,
2021, from https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1189&title=Food+Waste+
Composting%3A+Institutional+and+Industrial+Application#:~:text=What%20Can%20Be%20Composted%3F,ga
rden%2C%20it%20can%20be%20composted.
30
Voegeli, A. (2020, August 26). How Millennials and Gen Z are Changing Cities – Dormakaba Blog. Retrieved
January 25, 2021, from https://blog.dormakaba.com/how-millennials-and-gen-z-are-changing-
cities/#:~:text=Strides%20in%20Sustainability&text=Protecting%20the%20environment%20is%20a%20to
p%20concern%20for%20millennials%20and%20Gen%20Z.&text=They%20want%20to%20live%20in,Gen
%20Z%20prioritize%20renewable%20energy.
31
American Society of Civil Engineers, 2019 Report Card for Georgia’s Infrastructure. Retrieved from
https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/georgia/
32
Platt, B. (2016, March 1). NYSDOT – Compost Procurement. Retrieved January 27, 2021, from
https://ilsr.org/rule/compost-procurement/nysdot/
33
https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/DevelopingSustainableCompostMarkets

8
purchasing soil and other covering materials. The city should consider including the addition of
composted material when selecting vendors for this type of contract.

Finally, landscaping projects are another area in which communities can support the
development of the composting industry. Most composted blends are less than, or similarly
priced to, synthetic peat-based products. Composted soil is also more nutrient-dense, allowing
for healthier plants and less harmful runoff.34 The composted soil blend includes macro- and
micronutrients that are often not even found in synthetic fertilizers. It also holds nutrients tight
enough to prevent them from washing out but loose enough for the plant to absorb as needed.
This type of soil also has a balanced pH level, as compared to noncomposted dirt and synthetic
fertilizers, which leads to a healthier plant.35

Conclusion
Removing food waste from landfills has been proven to benefit the communities in which the
composting program is implemented. U.S. landfills are filled with 30.63 tons of compostable
food waste every year, and a byproduct of dumping food waste into landfills is the release of
landfill gas emissions into the atmosphere.36 Ninety-nine (99) percent of landfill gas emissions
consist of carbon dioxide and methane, while the other 1.0 percent consists of hydrogen sulfide
and other non-methane organic compounds. As discussed earlier, methane is a costly landfill
gas, but methane emissions could be decreased by implementing a composting program.

Developing a composting industry has the potential to produce many benefits for the local
community and economy. Compost can be collected using a fixed fee pickup/drop-off services
model and can be managed by a private company. This mean that municipalities can benefit
from the reduction in waste going to the landfill with minimal investment on the collection side
of the operation. Municipalities can also aid industry by purchasing a compostable soil mix to
use for their landscaping projects. Compost has been proven to be more effective than
synthetic fertilizers, leading to an increased demand in the landscaping industry. Typically, for
every million ton of compostable waste collected, 1,400 jobs will be created across the
economy, which equates to three times as many jobs than landfills and 17 times as many jobs
as waste incineration can support.37

34
Alexander, R. (2011, September). Selling Compost To The Landscape Industry. BioCycle, 52(9), 57. Retrieved
January 12, 2021, from https://www.biocycle.net/selling-compost-to-the-landscape-industry/
35
Compost Benefits & Uses. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from
http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/fundamentals/benefits_benefits.htm
36
Lytkowski, J. (2020, April 29). Think Twice Before You Throw out Your Plastic Water Bottle. Retrieved January 13,
2021, from https://www.dumpsters.com/blog/us-trash-production

37
Hermes, J. (2013, May 13). Report: Composting Could Create Two Times as Many Jobs as Landfilling. Retrieved
January 25, 2021, from https://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/05/report-composting-food-scraps-
clippings-could-create-2x-as-many-jobs-as-landfilling/

9
With a recent shift to a sustainable lifestyle, members of the Millennial and Gen Z generations
have become more inclined than ever to live in a sustainable city. Implementing a voluntary
composting program to the City of Savannah would go a long way in attracting a younger
population to the city. Younger residents would lead to new businesses, as well as impressive
economic growth. No better opportunity to start a voluntary composting program exists, and
the time to act is now.

10
Appendix A: Pricing for Collecting Point Services
The Compost Exchange
The Compost Exchange offers curbside pickup of composting buckets in Columbus, OH, and the
surrounding area. For $16/month or $54/4 months, The Compost Exchange gives customers a
5-gallon bucket to fill weekly. If the 5-gallon bucket is not enough, the firm offers a 7-gallon
bucket alternative.38
Alternatively, it also offers drop-off composting at seven drop-off areas. Five of them are
located at farmers’ markets, and the other two are located at grocery stores. These offer drop-
off weekly and at different times, so one is always open throughout the day. The Compost
Exchange charges $39/6 months for an unlimited amount of composting.39

Compost Collection
Compost Collection is a service in Chattanooga, TN, that offers a drop-off composting option.
The company allows customers to drop off one 5-gallon bucket of compostable waste at their
collection center, weekly. In return, Compost Collection returns 10 gallons of finished compost
per month subscribed. The charge is $15/month for the drop-off service with no monthly
commitment.40

CompostNow & CHaRM

CompostNow & CHaRM is a compost drop-off service located in Atlanta, GA. Its collection site
operates from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 8 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturdays. For
$19/month, customers have unlimited access to the collection site during operating hours.
CompostNow & CHaRM does notlimit the amount of compostable material customers can drop
off.41

OCRRA
Located in Camillus, NY, part of upstate New York, OCRRA offers a compost drop-off site for
food waste and yard trimmings. OCRRA charges $25/year for unlimited access to its drop-off
location. Compostable materials can be brought in a container the customer has, and they are
given two bags of premium compost per pass purchased.42

38
Curbside Composting. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from
https://www.thecompostexchange.com/curbside-composting-1
39
Drop Off Composting. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from
https://www.thecompostexchange.com/dropoffcomposting
40
Chattanooga TN Compost Collection. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from
https://www.atlasorganics.net/chattanooga-tn-compost-collection#dropoff
41
CompostNow. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://compostnow.org/sign-up/charm/
42
Amboy. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://ocrra.org/locations/compost-locations/amboy-compost-
site/#fees

11
Turn Compost
Located in Dallas, TX, Turn Compost has four drop-off locations located at Whole Foods
throughout the city. When subscribed, customers are issued a 5-gallon bucket that is to be filled
with compostable material. Customers have no limits on the amount of waste they can drop
off; however, it must be in a 5-gallon bucket. Turn Compost charges $20/month with no
monthly commitment.43

SUNCOAST COMPOST
With five locations located throughout Tampa, FL, SUNCOAST COMPOST allows 24/7
composting drop-off. Its drop-off locations are scattered across various businesses. The firm
charges $20/month with no monthly commitment for unlimited access to drop-off composters,
compostable bags, a kitchen bin, and finished compost twice a year.44

City of Santa Fe
The City of Santa Fe sells compost to residents and businesses. It sells screened compost,
unscreened compost, and compost overs. Screened compost has been run through a ½ sifter
and is best suited for planting and mixing with soil. It costs $11.50/cubic yard. Unscreened
compost sells for $9/cubic yard and still has larger wood chips mixed in. Finally, Compost overs
sell for $6/cubic yard are the larger wood chips that do not pass through the screening process
and are best suited for landscaping. These fees are on par with the industry average for
compost.45

43
Residential Drop-off Subscription. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from
https://www.turncompost.com/dropoffsubscription
44
Residential Drop-off. (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2021, from https://www.suncoastcompost.com/drop-off
45
Purchase Compost. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://www.santafenm.gov/purchase_compost

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