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A study published in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development reveals the positive impact of community composting programs on reducing household food waste. The article, by Associate Professor Nevin Cohen and colleagues from the University of Florida, highlights the potential of these programs to divert food waste from landfills and promote more sustainable community food systems.
The study, which involved participants in a community-based compost program in Gainesville, Florida, combined surveys with a citizen science approach in which 107 program participants measured and recorded their daily food waste for two weeks. The authors found that households generated more than double the EPA’s estimate of weekly food waste (14 pounds versus 6.5 pounds).
Program participation led to positive outcomes, the authors say, with 85.8% of participants reporting increased awareness of food waste and 71.5% indicating they had reduced their household waste.
The program also addressed common barriers to home composting, including pest concerns and technical challenges that had previously discouraged participants from composting independently.
“Cities may benefit from community-based composting alongside citywide curbside collection of organic waste because the community programs do more than divert waste—they function as educational platforms that increase awareness and shift behaviors toward more sustainable consumption,” Cohen notes.
