NYC's Composting Rates Are Low. A Sustainability Expert Thinks AI Will Offer a Solution. Eventually.

"In the U.S., more than one third of food goes to waste. As such, more food ends up in landfills than any other material. There, organic products decompose and produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to warming the planet. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, discarded food is responsible for 58 percent of methane emissions from landfills. But this organic waste can instead be put to good use if it is composted."

"Composting is a natural process that recycles organic waste like discarded food, paper or yard litter into a rich material called compost. With air and moisture, microorganisms-bacteria and fungi-transform this waste into a valuable material that can improve soil quality. Compost adds nutrients and good microbes to soil, helps retain moisture, reduces erosion, filters stormwater and eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides."

"New York City's restaurants, large grocery stores and other food services have been required to separate out their organic waste for composting since 2013, but as of this past April, all city residents are now required to do this as well. Property owners can be fined up to $300 if food and yard waste are not separated from regular trash. New Yorkers must place food and yard waste into a separate bin for curbside pickup."

Over one-third of food in the U.S. is wasted and organic waste in landfills decomposes to produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Discarded food accounts for 58 percent of landfill methane emissions according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Composting recycles organic materials such as food scraps, paper and yard waste into nutrient-rich compost through microbial decomposition, improving soil quality, retaining moisture, reducing erosion, filtering stormwater, and reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. New York City now requires residents to separate food and yard waste for curbside pickup, with fines up to $300 for noncompliance; collected organics are processed at large composting facilities.

Read at State of the Planet