What Composting Looks like in South Korea

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 10: Food scraps are seen in a compost bin at The Slanted Door restaurant on December 10, 2010 in San Francisco, California. One year after the San Francisco board of supervisors passed the nation's strictest recycling law, the residents of San Francisco have composts more than any other city in the country, with a 200 percent one year jump in composting. The city has also achieved a better than expected 77 percent diversion from landfill goal that was set at 75 percent by 2010, the nation's highest for any city. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Since 2006 it has been illegal to throw food waste into a landfill in South Korea. Today they recycle 95% of their food waste via composting and other means. This is in stark contrast compared to 25 years ago when almost nothing was recycled. The waste management system in South Korea began restructuring in 1995. Prior to 1995, landfills were so overfull in poor communities that citizens would lay in the streets in an effort to prevent more trash from being dumped into landfills.

Although South Korea composts most of its food waste, they have one of the highest rates of food waste. People in South Korea generate around three-quarters of a pound of waste a day. South Koreans prepare and eat lots of fresh, whole foods, and Traditional South Korean meals have multiple side dishes -known as Banchan- much of which is left unfinished, and sent to the compost.

Recycling materials like plastics, glass, and metals are picked up for free while trash and compost waste have fees. A family in Seoul, South Korea’s capital, spends on average 6 dollars a month to dispose of food waste. 

Of the 13,000 tons of food waste produced in South Korea on a daily basis, 30% becomes compost, 60% becomes animal feed, and the remaining 10% becomes biofuel.

Years after enacting composting laws, Seoul banned plastic bags at large grocery stores and supermarkets and imposed a fee on bags at smaller stores less than 165 square meters.

Composting in the US

The U.S, on the other hand, is the most wasteful country in the world. We generate on average 4.4 pounds of trash a day, with nearly 1 pound of this being food waste. We are also the largest generator of methane gas emissions. Additionally, we are rapidly running out of room in our landfills. Despite running out of room to dump our garbage, only a little more than 6% of our organic matter was composted in 2017. 

The benefits of composting are well documented. Compost is a valuable soil conditioner. It adds needed organic matter, sequesters carbon, improves plant growth, conserves water, reduces reliance on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and helps prevent nutrient runoff and erosion.”

The Bio Cycle

As stated by The Bio Cycle, composting has numerous benefits, despite the benefits, more than 200 Billion dollars worth of food is thrown away each year into landfills. Much of it is still edible (more on that later). The food that gets sent to landfills releases methane gas into the air. Methane is a large contributor to global warming; it’s is said to trap 30 times more heat in the atmosphere than Co2. More composting is clearly needed, however, environmental issues aside, much of the wasted food could be used to feed hungry people.

Based on data collected in 2016, an estimated 57% of established composting facilities are for yard waste while only. Around 13% are for multiple kinds of organic wastes and an additional 5% are designated for yard trimmings and food waste. The most recent data prior to 2016, was 2013, where 70% of composting facilities were set up for yard waste only. Despite the increase in composting facilities for food waste, by percentage, there is an overall decrease in composting facilities that reported data (4,900 in 2013, compared to 4,700 in 2016).

It became evident in the course of conducting the 2017 State of Organics Recycling In The U.S. that fewer states have data available on composting since BioCycle conducted a similar survey in 2013 as part of the State of Composting In The U.S. project.

The Bio Cycle

Many states are talking about making composting a priority, but most have yet to take significant steps. Additionally, based on reportings by Bio Cycle, fewer states participated in data collection in 2016 than years prior. As of 2014 California was the only state that has a system in place to fine noncompliant jurisdictions. This shows that while states recognize the importance of composting they’re not really serious about enforcing composting, or making significant changes to the infrastructure of our country’s waste management system.

Why we waste so much food 

In large part, food is wasted because of “Sell by” dates set by grocery stores. When a product is past its sell-by date this does not mean that it’s no longer edible. Some foods are labeled with a sell-by date and some foods have a best-by date while some have both and others have neither. This can be confusing, for obvious reasons. Food that could have otherwise been eaten is often thrown out. Additionally, it’s estimated that 20% of the food produced gets thrown out because of cosmetic issues, such as weird shape or coloring. 

Statewide composting regulations

In the U.S many states don’t have significant data on composting. In places like Denver, composting is not all that important because they still have more than 125 years of landfill space left due to their location. States in the North East, however, have more incentive to pass composting legislation because they don’t have the same access to landfill space as Denver, Colorado. Only 5 states have passed laws requiring composting, and even less and enacted laws that apply to everyone. Most composting laws put in place only apply to businesses of a certain size and type.

California

In 2014 California instituted an organic waste program, with outreach and education. By 2016 all businesses generating more than 8 cubic yards of organic waste per week were required to arrange for organic waste pick up, by 2017 businesses than generate 4 cubic yards of organic waste was required to arrange for organic waste pick up, and in January of 2019, any business that generated more than 4 cubic yards of commercial solid waste was required to arrange for organic waste pick up. California had a goal to reduce organic waste in landfills by 50% by the year 2020 with plans to expand and adjust if this goal was not met. 

Connecticut

In 2010 Connecticut found that the most common recyclable material was food scraps, making up 13% of recyclable material by weight. Connecticut was the first state to mandate the disposal of food scraps for large scale generators. As of 2017 any commercial food wholesaler/distributor, industrial food manufacturer/processor, supermarket, resort, or conference center generating more than 104 tons of organic waste per year located within 20 miles of an organic waste recycling center, must recycle their organics. In 2020 the requirement will decrease from 104 tons to 54 tons. Only an estimated 3.9% of food waste is composted in Connecticut. 

Massachusetts

Since 2014 Massachusetts has banned commercial waste disposal for businesses and institutions that generate more than one ton of organic waste a week. Massachusetts set out a goal to divert 35% of food waste from landfills by 2020. Over the 10 years from 2008 to 2018, the disposal rate dropped 18% per capita in Massachusetts. They plan to reduce the current annual waste from 5.7 million tons to 1.7 million tons, a 30% reduction, by 2030. Additionally, MassDEP has a long term plan to reduce waste by 90% by the year 2050. MassDEP plans to do this by increasing requirements for commercial food diversion from landfills and increase bans on “target materials” among other things. 

Rhode Island

Businesses that produce more than 2 tons of organic waste per week must separate out organic waste if they are located within 15 miles of a facility. Rhode Island has set out different regulations depending on the size of the composting facility, and what kind of scraps it accepts. Small scale composting facilities may not accept dead plants or black walnut tree leaves and twigs as well as grease, fats, scraps of meat or bone, fish, or shellfish, dairy products, eggs oily foods pet waste, sanitary products and diapers, or coal and charcoal ash. Small composting facilities process less than 25 cubic yards a day. Medium composting facilities process between 25 and 600 cubic yards of compost a day and have many of the same composting rules as small facilities. In some cases, medium-sized facilities may process grease and fats as well as bones, meat scraps, (including fish and shellfish) dairy products and eggs. Large composting facilities that process more than 600 cubic yards of waste and require certain features to prevent human and environmental health problems. 

Vermont

Composting is required for all businesses that generate more than 104 tons of waste a year if there is a facility within 20 miles of said business. As of 2016 residents were required to separate all yard trimmings and debris from their regular trash. By July of this year (2020) all business and residents must divert their food waste from landfills regardless of location. Vermont is the first state to institute a complete ban on organic waste in landfills. Some people in waste management are worried about not being fully equipped to haul food scraps and are concerned about the added cost. The pros outweigh the cons, however, because it is estimated that composting will double (from 30% to 60%) when the new law is in place, making Vermont among the top greenest states in the country. 

City Wide composting bans

Austin, Texas

Since 2016 “food enterprise facilities” greater than 15,000 square feet are required to divert organic waste. As of 2017, the same rule applies to all businesses larger than 5,000 square feet. Food donation is also acceptable as a form of waste diversion. Since late 2019 most of Austin’s residents have had the option for curbside composting pick up, with plans to extend services to all residents in 2020. By 2040 Austin plans to divert 90% of organic waste from landfills. Composting is funded by a $1 increase to monthly waste management fees. In late March of 2019, an estimated 30% of residents that had access to curbside compost pick up were taking advantage of the program. 

New York City

An estimated 21% of New York City’s waste is food scraps. Foodservice establishments within hotels that have more than 150 rooms, Areas and stadiums that seat more than 15,000 people, food manufacturers with a floor area of at least 25,000 feet, and food wholesalers with a floor arena of at least 20,000 feet are all required to divert food waste from landfills. Residents are able to drop off compost at composting facilities around the city or participate in NYC’s Department of Sanitation’s curbside compost program. 3.2 million pounds of organic waste was diverted from landfills in 2019. 

Portland, Oregon

Any business that generates food scraps must separate their food waste regardless of size or location to organic waste facilities. 55% of Portland’s food waste comes from businesses. Oregon has residential composting pickup available weekly although they do not provide pails for pick up. Along with composting, businesses or Oregon work to reduce portion sizes and donate extra food so as to cut back on waste. Some businesses have reported diverting up to 84% of their waste through composting, donating to food banks, and other methods. In 2017 Oregon saw a 5% decrease in recycling and composting from 2014 with plastics decreasing in value. 

San Francisco, California

Separation of recyclables and compostables is required by everyone. Residents have the option to compost at home or participate in curbside pickup, and building owners must provide tenants with proper bins for compost, or be fined. Composting has been required since 2009, and by 2010 was diverting 77% of waste from landfills and now diverts more than 80% of its waste. San Francisco had goals to achieve zero waste by 2020 and already diverts more waste from landfills than any other city in the country. It is not likely that San Francisco will meet its zero waste goals this year. 

Seattle, Washington

All food waste is prohibited from landfills for both businesses and residents, businesses must compost waste on-site, self-haul, or arrange for food waste pick up. Seattle began instituting its first form of an organic waste ban in 1988 with the ban of yard scraps. In 2005 Seattle began curbside organic waste collections, later requiring that all residents subscribe to curbside pick up or participate in backyard composting. As of 2015 food waste in landfills is prohibited in Seattle. A fee is opposed if more than 10% of your waste is contaminated with organic materials, however, in 2016 Washington declared it unconstitutional for waste management to inspect your trash, so its a bit of a grey area.  

Something else to think about

Sources: