Composting At Scale: Why Composting is a Smart Investment with Compost Now’s Olivia Wilmink
“Composting isn’t just waste removal—it’s an investment in soil, carbon reduction and local economies.”
Olivia Wilmink
Most people recognize that composting is good for the environment. It reduces food waste, enriches soil, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, for many, composting remains an afterthought—something that’s “nice to do” but not a priority.
The reality is that composting is one of the simplest, most impactful ways to restore soil health, fight climate change, and create local jobs. The challenge? Many people perceive composting as inconvenient, expensive, or unnecessary.
But what if we reframed composting as an essential investment in a circular waste economy—one that keeps nutrients in use, reduces landfill burden, and creates long-term economic value?
To explore this, we spoke with Olivia Wilmink, Marketing Manager at CompostNow, about how composting at scale benefits our communities, our environment, and our economy.
Composting: A Smart Investment in the Future
At first glance, composting may seem like an added expense, while traditional trash disposal feels “free” or included in municipal services. But this perception overlooks a crucial reality:
Composting isn’t expensive—wasting valuable organic material is.
“For those new to composting, the cost of our service might seem like the biggest barrier—but behind that price is a thoughtful investment in people, infrastructure, and community,” Olivia explains.
When you pay for composting, you’re not just paying for waste removal—you’re funding a system that keeps organic material in the loop, restores soil, and reduces reliance on landfills.
What Goes Into The Price You Pay For A Home Composting Service?
A composting subscription isn’t just about convenience—it helps build a waste system that benefits both people and the planet. Here’s why composting services like CompostNow are a valuable investment:
Fair Wages & Worker Well-Being
CompostNow prioritizes the health and well-being of its team by providing meaningful employment and opportunities for growth.
The company is committed to above-living wages, health insurance, extensive paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plans.
Sustainable Operations & Logistics
Running a composting service requires transportation costs such as fuel, fleet maintenance, and labor to ensure safe and reliable hauling.
CompostNow’s routes are optimized for efficiency and sustainability, reducing emissions while maximizing service reach.
Composting Infrastructure & Processing
Composting at scale requires specialized processing facilities that actively manage organic waste to produce a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
Filtering contaminants like plastic and non-compostables requires additional labor and oversight.
Community Impact & Garden Partner Program
Through its Garden Partner Program, CompostNow members can share their compost with local farms and gardens, directly supporting community food systems and soil health.
Key takeaway?
A composting service isn't just a waste solution—it’s an investment in local sustainability, responsible waste management, and regenerative agriculture.
Reframing the Role of Landfills: Why Composting Complements Waste Management
Landfills play an important role in waste management, providing essential public services that help maintain the health and well-being of our communities. The problem isn’t landfills themselves—it’s what we put in them.
"The number one material we send to landfills is food waste," Olivia explains. "If we can remove or reduce that stream, we extend the life of our landfills, reduce emissions, and create a valuable soil amendment from an otherwise wasted resource. Creating compost also comes with job creation, local soil benefits, and a stronger circular economy."
By shifting organic waste away from landfills and into composting systems, we can reduce the strain on landfill infrastructure while unlocking economic and environmental benefits. Instead of treating food waste as garbage, composting turns it into a resource.
The Opportunity Cost of NOT Composting
While composting requires investment, the cost of ignoring organic waste is even higher—it just isn’t as visible.
1. Food Waste Costs the U.S. Over $200 Billion Annually
The U.S. wastes over $218 billion worth of food every year, when factoring in:
Lost agricultural resources (land, water, fertilizers)
Transportation & disposal costs
Climate impacts (food waste accounts for nearly 58% of landfill methane emissions)
Every ton of food waste that isn’t composted represents lost nutrients that could have revitalized soil, higher waste management costs, and increased emissions.
Composting, on the other hand, generates economic returns—for every $1 invested in composting infrastructure, municipalities can save up to $4 in waste management costs through landfill diversion, emission reduction, and soil restoration (Compost Infrastructure).
Composting Creates Jobs & Strengthens Local Economies. Transitioning to a circular waste system creates new economic opportunities.
Composting creates 2x as many jobs per ton of waste processed compared to landfills (Institute for Local Self-Reliance).
If just half of food scraps landfilled and incinerated were diverted to community composting, over 50,000 new jobs could be created (Biocycle Surveys).
Farmers using compost see long-term cost savings through reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
By failing to invest in composting infrastructure now, cities miss out on an opportunity to build a more resilient, job-creating, and cost-saving waste management system.
2. Soil Degradation is a Growing Crisis
By landfilling organic waste instead of composting it, we rob soil of the nutrients it needs to remain fertile, increasing farmers' reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
U.S. farmland loses an estimated 1.7 billion tons of topsoil every year due to poor soil management (NRCS).
A study by the Soil Health Institute found that regenerative farming practices like composting increase yields while reducing fertilizer dependency.
Fertilizer prices are highly volatile, with costs increasing by over 100% from 2020 to 2022 due to global supply chain disruptions (FAO).
3. Methane Emissions & Climate Costs
The EPA estimates that 58% of landfill methane emissions come from food waste. Methane has a global warming potential 25 times higher than CO₂ over a 100-year period (IPCC).
Methane is 25x more potent than CO₂, accelerating climate change (IPCC).
Composting eliminates methane emissions by breaking down organic matter aerobically.
Rising global temperatures increase disaster recovery costs, such as floods and droughts.
Key takeaway?
The cost of NOT composting isn’t just an environmental problem—it’s an economic one.
Scaling Composting: Making It Easier to Participate
The biggest barrier to composting isn’t lack of awareness—it’s convenience and cost. CompostNow is working to make composting at scale more accessible, affordable, and impactful.
1. How Convenience Impacts Composting Participation
Pilots in Georgia have shown that composting adoption increases significantly when made convenient:
Drop-off Program (East Point, GA): 4% participation, 19,000 lbs diverted in 1 year.
Curbside Program (Avondale Estates, GA): 35% participation, 21,000 lbs diverted in just 6 months.
Key Takeaway?
Easier access leads to higher adoption rates—meaning more food waste gets put to good use.
2. The Future of Composting: Policy & Industry Trends
CompostNow is playing an active role in shaping the future of organics diversion:
Momentum & Policy Support – More states and cities are investing in composting infrastructure.
Industry Advocacy – CompostNow is working with the Georgia Composting Council and USCC to advance compost-friendly policies.
Compostable Packaging – CompostNow supports compostable packaging as a tool for reducing single-use plastics when implemented correctly.
Closing Thoughts: Why Composting is an Investment, Not a Cost
When people think about composting, they often focus on the cost of participation rather than the value it creates.
But composting is more than just a waste solution—it’s an investment in a sustainable future. It supports soil health, job creation, landfill efficiency, and climate resilience.
As Olivia puts it: "When you subscribe to CompostNow, you're not just paying for waste removal—you're investing in circular economy infrastructure that restores soil and creates economic opportunities."
Now is the time to act.
If you have space, start a home composting system.
If you want an easy, effective way to participate, subscribe to a service like CompostNow.
If you run a business, explore commercial composting solutions to keep food waste out of landfills.
Encourage local policymakers to expand composting programs that make it more accessible.
We can’t afford to keep treating organic waste as garbage. Scaling composting beyond niche adoption requires participation—and it starts now, with you!
