Study Claims Most Americans Would Compost – if it’s Easy and Cheap

Most Americans would be willing to compost in their homes if it was more convenient, but they don’t want to pay extra for it, according to a new survey.

The study reports that 72 percent of Americans don’t compost at home, but 67 would be willing to do so if it was easier.

The report was commissioned by the Washington-based National Waste & Recycling Association and conducted online by Rochester, N.Y.-based Harris Interactive. About 2,000 adults responded to the survey.

Conversely, 62 percent of those reporting said they wouldn’t support an increase in their waste and recycling service costs, either from a separate fee or a tax to support an increase in taxes, if separate food and yard waste collection and processing were necessary.

“While America’s waste and recycling industry has developed innovative composting technologies, there are hurdles inhibiting such changes,” said Sharon Kneiss, president and CEO of the association. “Challenges include the collection and transportation of food waste and the siting of food waste composting facilities more broadly. But a far greater hurdle inhibiting an organics revolution may involve a lack of understanding by the American public about the value of such a change.”