Recycling Quotes
compost Food Waste Recycling

Food Waste Recycling & Composting Services

Organic waste recycling diverts food waste, yard waste, and compostable materials from landfill through composting, anaerobic digestion, or animal feed programs. Food waste is the single largest category of material sent to landfill in the US — generating methane, a greenhouse gas 80x more potent than CO2.

The Biggest Thing in Your Dumpster Shouldn't Be There

Food waste makes up roughly 24% of material sent to US landfills — more than any other single material category. When food decomposes in a landfill without oxygen, it generates methane, a greenhouse gas roughly 80 times more potent than CO2 over a 20-year period. Diverting organics isn't just about waste — it's climate action.

Recycling Quotes provides organic waste collection programs that route food waste, yard waste, and compostable materials to composting facilities, anaerobic digesters, or animal feed programs. For commercial food operations generating consistent volumes, we provide source-separated collection with proper containers and pickup frequencies.

24%of US landfill waste is food — the single largest material category in municipal solid waste
80xmethane is more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2 over 20 years — landfilled food generates massive methane
35%of food produced in the US is never eaten — representing $400+ billion in wasted resources annually
13 stateshave passed or proposed organic waste bans or diversion mandates for commercial generators

Organic Materials We Divert

Processed through certified facilities with full documentation.

check_circlePre-consumer food waste (prep scraps, trim)
check_circlePost-consumer food waste (plate scrapings)
check_circleExpired food and beverages
check_circleBakery and dairy waste
check_circleYard waste and landscape trimmings
check_circleCompostable serviceware (BPI certified)
check_circleCoffee grounds and filters
check_circleSoiled paper and cardboard (food-contaminated)

From Waste to Compost or Energy

1

Assessment

We evaluate your organic waste volume, type (pre-consumer vs post-consumer), and available space for collection containers.

2

Collection Setup

Toters, carts, or dumpsters placed in kitchens, prep areas, and loading docks. Staff training on what goes in.

3

Pickup

Scheduled service matched to your generation rate — daily for high-volume kitchens, 2-3x weekly for smaller operations.

4

Processing

Organics routed to composting facilities or anaerobic digesters depending on your local infrastructure.

24%

of US landfill waste is food — the single largest material category in municipal solid waste

80x

methane is more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2 over 20 years — landfilled food generates massive methane

35%

of food produced in the US is never eaten — representing $400+ billion in wasted resources annually

13 states

have passed or proposed organic waste bans or diversion mandates for commercial generators

Ready to recycle food waste?

Quotes in less than 1 hour. Free pickup for commercial volumes.

Organics Recycling Questions

What's accepted, composting vs anaerobic digestion, and state mandates.

View All FAQs arrow_forward

Pre-consumer food waste (prep scraps, trim), post-consumer food waste (plate scrapings), expired food, yard waste, BPI-certified compostable serviceware, coffee grounds, and food-contaminated paper/cardboard.

Composting decomposes organics aerobically (with oxygen) into soil amendment. Anaerobic digestion breaks down organics without oxygen, producing biogas (renewable energy) and digestate. We route to whichever facility is available in your area.

As of 2025, 13+ states have passed or proposed organic waste mandates for commercial generators. California (SB 1383), Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York are among the strictest. Contact us for your state's requirements.

Proper containers with tight-fitting lids, appropriate collection frequency (daily for high-volume kitchens), and staff training on what goes in. We size the program to prevent accumulation and odor.

BPI-certified compostable serviceware is accepted at most commercial composting facilities. Non-certified "eco-friendly" packaging often cannot be composted — check for the BPI logo.

Weight tickets, monthly diversion reports, and methane avoidance calculations. Annual data formatted for SB 1383 compliance (CA) and other state reporting requirements.

For dedicated organics pickup: one 64-gallon toter per week minimum. Smaller volumes can often be handled through municipal composting programs where available.

In many markets, organics diversion is cost-neutral or cheaper than landfill disposal — especially in states with organic waste bans where landfill tipping fees include surcharges for organic content.

Get an Organics Recycling Quote

Tell us about your food waste and we'll design a diversion program that meets your goals and any regulatory requirements.

check_circle Free quotescheck_circle Certified recyclingcheck_circle Nationwide service