Sector Color
5A89D7

Deploy Blue Hydrogen

Submitted by Drawdown Admin on
Sector
Industry, Materials & Waste
Mode
Cut Emissions
Cluster
Improve Processes
Image
An image of a large, metal hydrogen storage tank that says 'H2 Hydrogen' on the side
Coming Soon
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Summary

Blue hydrogen is hydrogen produced from fossil fuel sources, with some of the GHG emissions captured and stored to prevent their release. This hydrogen, considered a low-carbon fuel or feedstock, is an alternative to hydrogen produced from fossil fuels without carbon capture (gray hydrogen). Blue hydrogen production uses available technologies and is less expensive than some other low-carbon hydrogen fuels, such as green hydrogen produced from renewable-powered electrolysis. However, concerns exist about its low adoption, variable effectiveness, and competition with technologies that offer greater climate benefits. Even if implemented effectively, blue hydrogen is higher-emitting than green hydrogen and more expensive than gray hydrogen. Blue hydrogen could be a “less-bad” interim alternative to gray hydrogen, but at the risk of perpetuating fossil fuel use. Blue hydrogen is theoretically an effective climate solution, but there are open questions around whether realistic deployment can meet its potential. Based on our assessment, we will “Keep Watching” this potential solution.

Description for Social and Search
Blue hydrogen is hydrogen produced from fossil fuels, with some of the GHGs captured and stored to prevent their release. This hydrogen, considered a low-carbon fuel or feedstock, is an alternative to hydrogen produced from fossil fuels without carbon capture (gray hydrogen).
Overview

What is our assessment?

Based on our analysis, blue hydrogen is ready to deploy and feasible, but there is mixed consensus and limited data on its effectiveness in reducing emissions. Its climate impact has the potential to be high, but only if adopted effectively and at a large scale, both of which are currently unproven. If deployed correctly, this technology could serve as an interim solution to reduce gray hydrogen emissions while progress is made on scaling and reducing the costs of green hydrogen. Based on our assessment, we will “Keep Watching” this potential solution.

Plausible Could it work? Yes
Ready Is it ready? Yes
Evidence Are there data to evaluate it? Limited
Effective Does it consistently work? No
Impact Is it big enough to matter? No
Risk Is it risky or harmful? No
Cost Is it cheap? Yes

What is it?

Hydrogen is a fuel that can be used in place of fossil fuels in industrial, transportation, and energy systems. To deploy hydrogen as an energy source or feedstock, it first needs to be extracted from other compounds. Each “color” is an informal term specifying hydrogen produced through a unique hydrogen production path, each with different associated supply chains, processes, and energy GHG emissions. Gray hydrogen, which uses natural gas as the source of hydrogen atoms and electricity, is the most produced and has high production emissions, estimated at 10–12 t CO₂-eq/t hydrogen on a 100-yr basis. One way to reduce emissions is by switching to blue hydrogen, which still uses fossil fuels but also uses CCS technologies to prevent the release of some of the CO₂ generated during production. Blue hydrogen has the potential to be a lower-emission source of energy relative to gray hydrogen or direct fossil fuel combustion.

Does it work?

Blue hydrogen is a plausible way to reduce emissions from gray hydrogen production. However, expert opinions are mixed on the magnitude of emissions that can be abated by producing blue hydrogen in place of gray hydrogen. The effectiveness of emissions reduction hinges on two main factors: the rate at which upstream methane leaks and carbon capture rates, both of which are challenging to predict on a global scale. There is uncertainty around these performance metrics and the ability to effectively store and transport captured CO₂ at scale. Due to low current adoption, there is little real-world data to answer these questions. As of 2023, blue hydrogen comprised <1% of worldwide hydrogen production. While adding carbon capture to gray hydrogen production should help prevent emissions, there is limited evidence for both effectiveness and the ability to scale of this technology.

Why are we excited?

Compared to other types of low-carbon hydrogen, including green hydrogen produced from electrolysis powered by renewable energy, blue hydrogen is a technologically developed and lower-cost option. Without a currently viable and cost-effective alternative to gray hydrogen that does not use fossil fuels, blue hydrogen can be a near-term option to facilitate the transition to a global hydrogen economy. Expert estimates of cost per emissions avoided range widely, but the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates US$60–85/t CO₂ for lower carbon capture rates (55–70%) and US$85–110/t CO₂ for higher carbon capture rates (>90%). However, these costs are uncertain: with lower estimates of effectiveness, the cost could increase to ~US$260/t CO₂, including the cost to transport and store CO₂. If implemented with low GHG fugitive emissions and high CCS efficiencies, blue hydrogen can reduce emissions by more than 60% relative to current gray hydrogen production on a 100-yr CO₂‑eq basis. In this case, the climate impact of scaling blue hydrogen could be high. Estimates and targets for blue hydrogen production by 2050 range from ~30–85 Mt hydrogen. At that scale, even modest emissions savings relative to gray hydrogen (3 t CO₂‑eq/t hydrogen, 20-yr basis) would have a climate impact above 0.09 Gt CO₂-eq/yr by 2050. However, achieving this depends on the quality of the infrastructure and rate of technology scaling, both of which are unproven.

Why are we concerned?

While it has some advantages, blue hydrogen is still a less effective solution than green hydrogen, while costing more than gray hydrogen. Though it could be useful for near-term energy decarbonization, this risks taking resources away from renewable energy and green hydrogen development while perpetuating and increasing fossil fuel use. The infrastructure required to scale hydrogen-based energy is expensive and will require technical advances and policy incentives to be competitive with fossil fuels. There are mixed expert opinions about the realistic level of avoided emissions that blue hydrogen may reach. The theoretical worst-performing blue hydrogen plants (low capture rates, high methane leaks, high-emission electricity sources) have been predicted to lead to more emissions on a near-term basis than direct natural gas combustion. Additionally, there is uncertainty around whether CCS can meet its technical potential at a reasonable cost. While experts predict >95% carbon capture rates are possible, facilities currently in operation capture less than this target, some less than 60% of all emitted carbon. For blue hydrogen to be feasible and scalable, CO₂ transport and storage need to be low-emitting, stable, and available. Only ~8% of CO₂ currently captured from blue hydrogen production is injected in dedicated storage, with the rest used in industry, enhanced oil recovery, and other applications. Finally, an understudied risk is hydrogen leaks. Hydrogen transport and storage require larger volumes than fossil fuels, increasing the risk of leaks. Hydrogen has an indirect planet-warming effect by increasing the levels of other atmospheric GHGs. At scale, the IEA estimates that high hydrogen leak rates could contribute 0.1 Gt CO₂-eq/yr in emissions, potentially canceling out any positive climate impacts.

Solution in Action

Arcos, J. M. M., & Santos, D. M. F. (2023). The hydrogen color spectrum: Techno-economic analysis of the available technologies for hydrogen production. Gases, 3(1), Article 1. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.3390/gases3010002

Bauer, C., Treyer, K., Antonini, C., Bergerson, J., Gazzani, M., Gencer, E., Gibbins, J., Mazzotti, M., McCoy, S. T., McKenna, R., Pietzcker, R., Ravikumar, A. P., Romano, M. C., Ueckerdt, F., Vente, J., & Spek, M. van der. (2021). On the climate impacts of blue hydrogen production. Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 6(1), 66–75. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SE01508G

Blank, T. K., Molloy, P., Ramirez, K., Wall, A., & Weiss, T. (2022, April 13). Clean energy 101: The colors of hydrogen. RMI. Link to source: https://rmi.org/clean-energy-101-hydrogen/

Collodi, G., Azzaro, G., Ferrari, N., & Santos, S. (2017). Techno-economic Evaluation of Deploying CCS in SMR Based Merchant H2 Production with NG as Feedstock and Fuel. Energy Procedia, 114, 2690–2712. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.1533

Gorski, J., Jutt, T., & Wu, K. T. (2021). Carbon intensity of blue hydrogen production. Link to source: https://www.pembina.org/reports/carbon-intensity-of-blue-hydrogen-revised.pdf

Hossain Bhuiyan, M. M., & Siddique, Z. (2025). Hydrogen as an alternative fuel: A comprehensive review of challenges and opportunities in production, storage, and transportation. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 102, 1026–1044. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.01.033

Howarth, R. W., & Jacobson, M. Z. (2021). How green is blue hydrogen? Energy Science & Engineering, 9(10), 1676–1687. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.956

IEA. (2023). Hydrogen: Net zero emissions guide. Link to source: https://www.iea.org/reports/hydrogen-2156#overview

IEA. (2023). Net zero roadmap: A global pathway to keep the 1.5 °C goal in reach. Link to source: https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-roadmap-a-global-pathway-to-keep-the-15-0c-goal-in-reach

IEA. (2024). Global hydrogen review 2024. Link to source: https://www.iea.org/reports/global-hydrogen-review-2024

Incer-Valverde, J., Korayem, A., Tsatsaronis, G., & Morosuk, T. (2023). “Colors” of hydrogen: Definitions and carbon intensity. Energy Conversion and Management, 291, 117294. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117294

Lewis, E., McNaul, S., Jamieson, M., Henriksen, M. S., Matthews, H. S., White, J., Walsh, L., Grove, J., Shultz, T., Skone, T. J., & Stevens, R. (2022). Comparison of commercial, state-of-the-art, fossil-based hydrogen production technologies. Link to source: https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1862910  

Pettersen, J., Steeneveldt, R., Grainger, D., Scott, T., Holst, L.-M., & Hamborg, E. S. (2022). Blue hydrogen must be done properly. Energy Science & Engineering, 10(9), 3220–3236. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.1232

Romano, M. C., Antonini, C., Bardow, A., Bertsch, V., Brandon, N. P., Brouwer, J., Campanari, S., Crema, L., Dodds, P. E., Gardarsdottir, S., Gazzani, M., Jan Kramer, G., Lund, P. D., Mac Dowell, N., Martelli, E., Mastropasqua, L., McKenna, R. C., Monteiro, J. G. M.-S., Paltrinieri, N., … Wiley, D. (2022). Comment on “How green is blue hydrogen?” Energy Science & Engineering, 10(7), 1944–1954. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.1126

Sun, T., Shrestha, E., Hamburg, S. P., Kupers, R., & Ocko, I. B. (2024). Climate impacts of hydrogen and methane emissions can considerably reduce the climate benefits across key hydrogen use cases and time scales. Environmental Science & Technology, 58(12), 5299–5309. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c09030

Udemu, C., & Font-Palma, C. (2024). Potential cost savings of large-scale blue hydrogen production via sorption-enhanced steam reforming process. Energy Conversion and Management, 302, 118132. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2024.118132

Vallejo, V., Nguyen, Q., & Ravikumar, A. P. (2024). Geospatial variation in carbon accounting of hydrogen production and implications for the US Inflation Reduction Act. Nature Energy, 9(12), 1571–1582. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-024-01653-0

Wu, W., Zhai, H., & Holubnyak, E. (2024). Technological evolution of large-scale blue hydrogen production toward the U.S. Hydrogen Energy Earthshot. Nature Communications, 15(1), 5684. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50090-w 

Credits

Lead Fellow 

  • Sarah Gleeson, Ph.D.

Internal Reviewer

  • Christina Swanson, Ph.D.
Speed of Action
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Caveats
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Risks
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Consensus
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Trade-offs
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Action Word
Deploy
Solution Title
Blue Hydrogen
Classification
Not Recommended
Lawmakers and Policymakers
Practitioners
Business Leaders
Nonprofit Leaders
Investors
Philanthropists and International Aid Agencies
Thought Leaders
Technologists and Researchers
Communities, Households, and Individuals
Updated Date

Deploy Plastic Alternatives / Bioplastics

Submitted by Drawdown Admin on
Sector
Industry, Materials & Waste
Mode
Cut Emissions
Cluster
Improve Materials
Image
Colorful smoothies in plastic cups with label 100% biodegradable
Coming Soon
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Summary

Bioplastics are renewable, plant-based alternatives to conventional plastics that can reduce emissions by replacing fossil-based feedstocks with biogenic carbon feedstocks. These feedstocks are biomass materials that absorb atmospheric CO₂ during growth and serve as the carbon source for plastic production. The chemical and biological properties of bioplastics are well understood, commercially validated, and can reduce emissions when produced sustainably and managed properly at their end-of-life. Benefits include reducing fossil fuel reliance, alleviating plastic pollution, and, in targeted uses, supporting circularity. However, these are counterbalanced by their inconsistent emissions savings, high costs, and scalability constraints. We conclude that deploying bioplastics as plastic alternatives remains a climate solution to “Keep Watching”, but would require changes in feedstock and appropriate end-of-life infrastructure to achieve reliable emissions reductions.

Description for Social and Search
Bioplastics are renewable, plant-based alternatives to conventional plastics that can reduce emissions by replacing fossil-based feedstocks with biogenic carbon feedstocks. These feedstocks are biomass materials that absorb atmospheric CO₂ during growth and serve as the carbon source for plastic production.
Overview

What is our assessment?

Based on our analysis, the widespread use of bioplastics is challenged by their potential ecological risks and currently high costs. While bioplastics offer some environmental benefits in niche applications, their climate impact is inconsistent and hinges on feedstock type, manufacturing practices, and waste management. Therefore, we conclude that Deploy Bioplastics is a solution to “Keep Watching.”

Plausible Could it work? Yes
Ready Is it ready? Yes
Evidence Are there data to evaluate it? Yes
Effective Does it consistently work? No
Impact Is it big enough to matter? No
Risk Is it risky or harmful? ?
Cost Is it cheap? No

What is it?

Bioplastics (also called biopolymers) are plastic alternatives made from renewable biological sources, such as corn, sugarcane, crop residues, or other plants, instead of fossil fuels. Bioplastics are produced by extracting sugars or starches from plants and converting them through chemical or biological processes into chemical building blocks that form the basic structure of plastics. Because plants absorb atmospheric CO₂ through photosynthesis, the carbon stored in bioplastics is considered biogenic, as it is already part of the natural carbon cycle. In contrast, petrochemical plastics are made by extracting and refining oil or natural gas, which releases new (formerly buried) carbon into the atmosphere. Bioplastics cut emissions by replacing fossil carbon feedstocks with biomass-based feedstocks. Some bioplastics are durable, non-biodegradable, chemically identical to traditional plastics (i.e., “drop-in” bioplastics), and recyclable. Others are biodegradable and can be designed to break down in compost. Emissions from bioplastics come from growing and processing biomass (which requires energy and land use), manufacturing the plastics, and managing their end-of-life waste. Bioplastics can achieve climate benefits when the emissions from production and end-of-life are kept low enough to realize the advantages of biogenic carbon.

Does it work?

The basic idea of bioplastics is scientifically and chemically sound, with their development and commercialization ongoing since the 1990s. Numerous studies support the effectiveness of bioplastics in reducing atmospheric CO₂ emissions from feedstock production and manufacturing stages compared to fossil-based plastics, particularly when made from sustainably sourced biomass under energy-efficient conditions and properly composted or recycled. However, other studies show bioplastics have inconsistent emissions reduction performance. Global adoption also remains limited, representing only about 0.5% of total plastics production (approximately 2–2.5 million tons (Mt) out of 414 Mt, according to the organization European Bioplastics). 

Why are we excited?

Bioplastics, particularly biologically derived and biodegradable polymers, have functional advantages in reducing fossil fuel dependence and mitigating plastic pollution. By sourcing raw materials from renewable biomass instead of petroleum (e.g., oil, natural gas), bioplastics can lower CO₂ emissions in the production stage, especially when accounting for biogenic carbon uptake during plant cultivation. Some types of bioplastics are interchangeable with traditional plastics and can be produced with existing plastic manufacturing systems, easing the transition. Compostable plastics simplify disposal in applications where contamination with food or organic waste occurs, enabling organic recycling and returning carbon and other nutrients to soil. Biodegradable bioplastics are also advantageous for products that are often discarded and may leak into the environment. Studies show that two widely used commercial bioplastics, polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), biodegrade 60–80% in composting conditions within 28–30 days, while cellulose-based and starch-based plastics can fully degrade in soil and marine environments in 180 days and 50 days, respectively. These functional benefits, combined with potential additional benefits, such as soil enrichment and waste stream simplification, make bioplastics appealing in specific, targeted use cases. More broadly, they can significantly contribute to emissions reduction efforts in materials production when designed for circularity and supported by infrastructure that facilitates appropriate end-of-life waste treatment. 

Why are we concerned?

Despite their promise, bioplastics have several limitations as a viable climate solution, including relatively low emissions reduction potential and possible risks and adverse impacts from their large-scale deployment. Current production is low. To reach a meaningful 20–30% marketplace share by 2040, bioplastics would need to expand manufacturing by approximately 30% per year, nearly double the current pace. This could put pressure on land and food systems, since current bioplastics rely on food-based crops for industrial-level production. This raises sustainability concerns around food security and could potentially drive unintended land-use changes such as deforestation or cropland conversion. Furthermore, the effectiveness of reducing emissions by replacing conventional plastics with bioplastics is low and inconsistent. Some bioplastics produce more life cycle emissions than conventional plastics. The likely climate impact of replacing 20–30% of traditional plastics with bioplastics is <0.1 Gt CO₂‑eq/yr. End-of-life treatment is also a major challenge. Many bioplastics are incompatible with home composting and current recycling streams, and improperly composted or landfilled biodegradable bioplastics can emit methane. Finally, bioplastics remain 2–3 times more expensive than conventional plastics.

Solution in Action

Barbu, B. (2024). Can biodegradable polymers make microplastics? C&EN Global Enterprise, 102(37), 21–22. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1021/cen-10237-cover4‌ 

Bauer, F., Nielsen, T. D., Nilsson, L. J., Palm, E., Ericsson, K., Fråne, A., & Cullen, J. (2022). Plastics and climate change—Breaking carbon lock-ins through three mitigation pathways. One Earth, 5(4), 361–376.‌ Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.03.007 

Benavides, P. T., Lee, U., & Zarè-Mehrjerdi, O. (2020). Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and energy use of polylactic acid, bio-derived polyethylene, and fossil-derived polyethylene. Journal of Cleaner Production, 277(124010), 124010. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124010 

Bishop, G., Styles, D., & Lens, P. N. L. (2022). Land-use change and valorisation of feedstock side-streams determine the climate mitigation potential of bioplastics. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 180, 106185. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106185‌ 

Chen, G., Li, J., Sun, Y., Wang, Z., Leeke, G. A., Moretti, C., Cheng, Z., Wang, Y., Li, N., Mu, L., Li, J., Tao, J., Yan, B., & Hou, L. (2024). Replacing traditional plastics with biodegradable plastics: Impact on carbon emissions. Engineering, 32, 152–162. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2023.10.002 
‌
Cotterill, M. (2020, August 5). Bioplastics: Don’t let the label fool you. Canadian Geographic.
Link to source: https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/bioplastics-dont-let-the-label-fool-you/ 

Di Bartolo, A., Infurna, G., & Dintcheva, N. T. (2021). A review of bioplastics and their adoption in the circular economy. Polymers, 13(8), 1229. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13081229 

Dokl, M., Copot, A., Krajnc, D., Fan, Y. V., Vujanović, A., Aviso, K. B., Tan, R. R., Kravanja, Z., & Čuček, L. (2024). Global projections of plastic use, end-of-life fate and potential changes in consumption, reduction, recycling and replacement with bioplastics to 2050. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 51, 498–518. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2024.09.025 

Escobar, N., & Britz, W. (2021). Metrics on the sustainability of region-specific bioplastics production, considering global land use change effects. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 167, 105345. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105345 

‌‌European Bioplastics. (2023). Bioplastics market development update 2023. European Bioplastics E.V. Link to source: https://docs.european-bioplastics.org/publications/market_data/2023/EUBP_Market_Data_Report_2023.pdf 

‌‌European Bioplastics. (2024). Bioplastics market development update 2024. European Bioplastics E.V. Link to source: https://www.european-bioplastics.org/market/ 

Ferreira-Filipe, D. A., Paço, A., Duarte, A. C., Rocha-Santos, T., & Patrício Silva, A. L. (2021). Are biobased plastics green alternatives?—A critical review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(15), 7729. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157729 

Helm, L. T., Venier-Cambron, C., & Verburg, P. H. (2025). The potential land-use impacts of bio-based plastics and plastic alternatives. Nature Sustainability, 8, 190–201. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01492-7 

Islam, M., Xayachak, T., Haque, N., Lau, D., Bhuiyan, M., & Pramanik, B. K. (2024). Impact of bioplastics on environment from its production to end-of-life. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 188, 151–166. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2024.05.113‌ 

Ita-Nagy, D., Vázquez-Rowe, I., Kahhat, R., Chinga-Carrasco, G., & Quispe, I. (2020). Reviewing environmental life cycle impacts of biobased polymers: current trends and methodological challenges. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 25(11), 2169–2189. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-020-01829-2‌ 

Karali, N., Khanna, N., & Shah, N. (2024, April 12). Climate Impact of Primary Plastic Production [Review of Climate Impact of Primary Plastic Production]. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Link to source: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6cc1g99q‌ 

Meng, F., Brandão, M., & Cullen, J. M. (2024). Replacing plastics with alternatives is worse for greenhouse gas emissions in most cases. Environmental Science & Technology, 58(6), 2716–2727. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c05191‌ 

Patria, R. D., Rehman, S., Yuen, C. W. M., Lee, D.-J., Vuppaladadiyam, A. K., & Leu, S. (2024). Energy-environment-economic (3E) hub for sustainable plastic management – Upgraded recycling, chemical valorization, and bioplastics. Applied Energy, 357, 122543. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.122543‌ 

Piemonte, V., & Gironi, F. (2010). Land-use change emissions: How green are the bioplastics? Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, 30(4), 685–691. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.10518 

Plastics Europe. (2024, November 18). Plastics – the fast Facts 2024 • Plastics Europe. Plastics Europe. Link to source: https://plasticseurope.org/knowledge-hub/plastics-the-fast-facts-2024/ 

Rosenboom, J.-G., Langer, R., & Traverso, G. (2022). Bioplastics for a circular economy. Nature Reviews Materials, 7, 117–137. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-021-00407-8 

‌The multifaceted challenges of bioplastics. (2024). Nature Reviews Bioengineering, 2(4), 279–279. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-024-00181-6 

Vanderreydt, I., Rommens, T., Tenhunen, A., Mortensen, L. F., & Tange, I. (2021, May). Greenhouse gas emissions and natural capital implications of plastics (including biobased plastics). Eionet Portal; European Environment Agency (EEA) European Topic Centre on Waste and Materials in a Green Economy. 
Link to source: https://www.eionet.europa.eu/etcs/etc-wmge/products/etc-wmge-reports/greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-natural-capital-implications-of-plastics-including-biobased-plastics 

‌Walker, S., & Rothman, R. (2020). Life cycle assessment of bio-based and fossil-based plastic: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 261, 121158. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121158 

Zhao, X., Cornish, K., & Vodovotz, Y. (2020). Narrowing the gap for bioplastic use in food packaging: An update. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(8), 4712–4732. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b03755 

‌Zhao, X., Wang, Y., Chen, X., Yu, X., Li, W., Zhang, S., Meng, X., Zhao, Z.-M., Dong, T., Anderson, A., Aiyedun, A., Li, Y., Webb, E., Wu, Z., Kunc, V., Ragauskas, A., Ozcan, S., & Zhu, H. (2023). Sustainable bioplastics derived from renewable natural resources for food packaging. Matter, 6(1), 97–127. Link to source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2022.11.006 

Credits

Lead Fellow

  • Nina-Francesca Farac, Ph.D.

Contributors

  • Amanda Smith, Ph.D.
  • Sarah Gleeson, Ph.D.

Internal Reviewer

  • Christina Swanson, Ph.D.
Speed of Action
left_text_column_width
Caveats
left_text_column_width
Additional Benefits
left_text_column_width
Risks
left_text_column_width
Consensus
left_text_column_width
Trade-offs
left_text_column_width
Action Word
Deploy
Solution Title
Plastic Alternatives / Bioplastics
Classification
Keep Watching
Updated Date

Increase Centralized Composting

Submitted by Drawdown Admin on
Sector
Industry, Materials & Waste
Mode
Cut Emissions
Cluster
Use Waste as a Resource
Image
Centralized composting facility
Coming Soon
On
Summary

A composting system diverts organic waste (OW) from landfills, reducing the production of methane and other GHG emissions.OW is defined as the combination of food waste and green waste, composed of yard and garden trimmings. Composting transforms it into a nutrient-rich soil supplement.

Our focus is on centralized (city- or regional-level) composting systems for the OW components of municipal solid waste (MSW). Decentralized (home- and community-level) and on-farm composting are also valuable climate actions, but are not included here due to limited data availability at the global level (see Increase Decentralized Composting).

Income & work,Health,Equality
Land resources,Water resources,Air quality
Description for Social and Search
Increase Centralized Composting reduces methane and other GHG emissions by diverting organic waste from landfills to composting facilities that repurpose waste into nutrient-rich soil supplements.
Overview

There are many stages involved in a composting system to convert organic MSW into finished compost that can be used to improve soil health (Figure 1). Within this system, composting is the biochemical process that transforms OW into a soil amendment rich in nutrients and organic matter. The composting process is based on aerobic decomposition, driven by complex interactions among microorganisms, biodegradable materials, and invertebrates and mediated by water and oxygen (see the Appendix). Without the proper balance of oxygen and water, anaerobic decomposition occurs, leading to higher methane emissions during the composting process (Amuah et al., 2022; Manea et al., 2024). Multiple composting methods can be used depending on the amounts and composition of OW feedstocks, land availability, labor availability, finances, policy landscapes, and geography. Some common methods include windrow composting, in-vessel composting, and aerated static piles (Amuah et al., 2022; Ayilara et al., 2020; Cao et al., 2023).

Centralized composting generally refers to processing large quantities (> 90 t/week) of organic MSW (Platt, 2017). Local governments often manage centralized composting as part of an integrated waste management system that can also include recycling non-OW, processing OW anaerobically in methane digesters, landfilling, and incineration (Kaza et al., 2018). 

Organic components of MSW include food waste and garden and yard trimmings (Figure 2). In most countries and territories, these make up 40–70% of MSW, with food waste as the largest contribution (Ayilara et al., 2020; Cao et al., 2023; Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO], 2019; Kaza et al., 2018; Manea et al., 2024; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [U.S. EPA], 2020; U.S. EPA, 2023). 

Diverting OW, particularly food waste, from landfill disposal to composting reduces GHG emissions (Ayilara et al., 2020; Cao et al., 2023; FAO, 2019). Diversion of organics from incineration could also have emissions and pollution reduction benefits, but we did not include incineration as a baseline disposal method for comparison since it is predominantly used in high-capacity and higher resourced countries and contributes less than 1% to annual waste-sector emissions (Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change [IPCC], 2023; Kaza et al., 2018). 

Disposal of waste in landfills leads to methane emissions estimated at nearly 1.9 Gt CO₂‑eq (100-yr basis) annually (International Energy Agency [IEA], 2024). Landfill emissions come from anaerobic decomposition of inorganic waste and OW and are primarily methane with smaller contributions from ammonia, nitrous oxide, and CO₂ (Cao et al., 2023; Kawai et al., 2020; Manea et al., 2024). Although CO₂, methane, and nitrous oxide are released during composting, methane emissions are up to two orders of magnitude lower than emissions from landfilling (Ayilara et al., 2020; Cao et al, 2023; FAO, 2019; IEA, 2024; Nordahl et al., 2023; Perez et al., 2023). GHG emissions can be minimized by fine-tuning the nutrient balance during composting. 

Depending on the specifics of the composting method used, the full transformation from initial feedstocks to finished compost can take weeks or months (Amuah et al., 2022; Manea et al., 2024; Perez et al., 2023). Finished compost can be sold and used in a variety of ways, including application to agricultural lands and green spaces as well as for soil remediation (Gilbert et al., 2020; Platt et al., 2022; Ricci-Jürgensen et al., 2020a; Sánchez et al., 2025). 

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Credits

Lead Fellow

  • Megan Matthews, Ph. D.

Contributors

  • Ruthie Burrows, Ph.D.

  • James Gerber, Ph.D.

  • Daniel Jasper

  • Alex Sweeney

Internal Reviewers

  • Aiyana Bodi

  • Hannah Henkin

  • Ted Otte

  • Sarah Gleeson, Ph. D.

  • Amanda D. Smith, Ph.D.

  • Paul C. West, Ph.D.

Effectiveness

We estimated that composting reduces emissions by 3.9 t CO₂‑eq /t OW (9.3 t CO₂‑eq /t OW, 20-yr basis) based on avoided landfill emissions minus the emissions during composting of MSW OW (Table 1). In our analysis, composting emissions were an order of magnitude lower than landfill emissions.

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Table 1. Effectiveness at reducing emissions. 

Unit: t CO₂‑eq (100-yr basis)/t OW

25th percentile 2.5
mean 3.2
median (50th percentile) 3.9
75th percentile 4.3
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Emissions data from composting and landfilling OW are geographically limited, but our analysis includes three global reports and studies from the U.S., China, Denmark, and the EU (European Energy Agency [EEA], 2024; Industrious Labs, 2024; Perez et al., 2023; U.S. EPA, 2020; Yang et al., 2017, Yasmin et al., 2022). We assumed OW was 39% of MSW in accordance with global averages (Kaza et al., 2018; World Bank, 2018).

We estimated that landfills emit 4.3 t CO₂‑eq /t OW (9.9 t CO₂‑eq /t OW, 20-yr basis). We estimated composting emissions were 10x lower at 0.4 t CO₂‑eq /t OW (0.6 t CO₂‑eq /t OW, 20-yr basis). We quantified emissions from a variety of composting methods and feedstock mixes (Cao et al., 2023; Perez et al., 2023; Yasmin et al., 2022). Consistent with Amuah et al. (2022), we assumed a 60% moisture content by weight to convert reported wet waste quantities to dry waste weights.

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Cost

Financial data were geographically limited. We based cost estimates on global reports with selected studies from the U.K., U.S., India, and Saudi Arabia for landfilling and the U.S. and Sri Lanka for composting. Transportation and collection costs can be significant in waste management, but we did not include them in this analysis. We calculated amortized net cost for landfilling and composting by subtracting revenues from operating costs and amortized initial costs over a 30-yr facility lifetime.

Landfill initial costs are one-time investments, while operating expenses, which include maintenance, wages, and labor, vary annually. Environmental costs, including post-closure operations, are not included in our analysis, but some countries impose taxes on landfilling to incentivize alternative disposal methods and offset remediation costs. Landfills generate revenue through tip fees and sales of landfill gas (Environmental Research & Education Foundation [EREF], 2023; Kaza et al., 2018). We estimated that landfilling is profitable, with a net cost of –US$30/t OW. 

Initial and operational costs for centralized composting vary depending on method and scale (IPCC, 2023; Manea et al., 2024), but up-front costs are generally cheaper than landfilling. Since composting is labor-intensive and requires monitoring, operating costs can be higher, particularly in regions that do not impose landfilling fees (Manea et al., 2024). 

Composting facilities generate revenue through tip fees and sales of compost products. Compost sales alone may not be sufficient to recoup costs, but medium- to large-scale composting facilities are economically viable options for municipalities (Kawai et al., 2020; Manea et al., 2024). We estimated the net composting cost to be US$20/t OW. The positive value indicates that composting is not globally profitable; however, decentralized systems that locally process smaller waste quantities can be profitable using low-cost but highly efficient equipment and methods (see Increase Decentralized Composting). 

We estimated that composting costs US$50/t OW more than landfilling. Although composting systems cost more to implement, the societal and environmental costs are greatly reduced compared to landfilling (Yasmin et al., 2022). The high implementation cost is a barrier to adoption in lower-resourced and developing countries (Wilson et al., 2024). 

Combining effectiveness with the net costs presented here, we estimated a cost per unit climate impact of US$10/t CO₂‑eq (US$5/t CO₂‑eq , 20-yr basis) (Table 2). 

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Table 2. Cost per unit climate impact.

Unit: US$ (2023)/t CO₂‑eq (100-yr basis)

median 10
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Learning Curve

Global cost data on composting are limited, and costs can vary depending on composting methods, so we did not quantify a learning rate for centralized composting.

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Speed of Action

Speed of action refers to how quickly a climate solution physically affects the atmosphere after it is deployed. This is different from speed of deployment, which is the pace at which solutions are adopted.

At Project Drawdown, we define the speed of action for each climate solution as emergency brake, gradual, or delayed.

Increase Centralized Composting is an EMERGENCY BRAKE climate solution. It has the potential to deliver a more rapid impact than nominal and delayed solutions. Because emergency brake solutions can deliver their climate benefits quickly, they can help accelerate our efforts to address dangerous levels of climate change. For this reason, they are a high priority.

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Caveats

The composting process has a low risk of reversal since carbon is stored stably in finished compost instead of decaying and releasing methane in a landfill (Ayilara et al., 2020; Manea et al., 2024). However, a composting system, from collection to finished product, can be challenging to sustain. Along with nitrogen-rich food and green waste, carbon-rich bulking materials are critical for maintaining optimal composting conditions that minimize GHG emissions. Guaranteeing the availability of sufficient bulking materials can challenge the success of both centralized and decentralized facilities.

Financially and environmentally sustainable composting depends not only on the quality of incoming OW feedstocks, but also on the quality of the final product. Composting businesses require a market for sales of compost products (in green spaces and/or agriculture), and poor source separation could lead to low-quality compost and reduced demand (Kawai et al., 2020; Wilson et al., 2024). Improvements in data collection and quality through good feedback mechanisms can also act as leverage for expanding compost markets, pilot programs, and growing community support.

If composting facilities close due to financial or other barriers, local governments may revert to disposing of organics in landfills. Zoning restrictions also vary broadly across geographies, affecting how easily composting can be implemented (Cao et al., 2023). In regions where centralized composting is just starting, reversal could be more likely without community engagement and local government support (Kawai et al., 2020; Maalouf & Agamuthu, 2023); however, even if facilities close, the emissions savings from past operation cannot be reversed.

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Current Adoption

Table 3. Current adoption level (2021).

Unit: t OW composted/yr

25th percentile 67,000,000
mean 78,000,000
median (50th percentile) 78,000,000
75th percentile 89,000,000
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We estimated global composting adoption at 78 million t OW/yr, as the median between two datasets. The most recent global data on composting were compiled in 2018 from an analysis from 174 countries and territories (World Bank, 2018). We also used an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) analysis from 45 countries (OECD, 2021). However, there were still many countries and territories that did not report composting data in one or both datasets. Although the World Bank dataset is comprehensive, it is based on data collected in 2011–2018, so more recent, high-quality, global data on composting are needed.

Globally, nearly 40% of all waste is disposed of in landfills, 19% is recovered through composting and other recovery and recycling methods, and the remaining waste is either unaccounted for or disposed of through open dumping and wastewater (Kaza et al., 2018).

We calculated total tonnage composted using the reported composting percentages and the total MSW tonnage for each country. Composting percentages were consistently lower than the total percentage of OW present in MSW, suggesting there is ample opportunity for increased composting, even in geographies where it is an established disposal method. In 2018, 26 countries/territories had a composting rate above 10% of MSW, and 15 countries/territories had a composting rate above 20% of MSW. Countries with the highest composting rates were Austria (31%), the Netherlands (27%), and Switzerland (21%) (World Bank, 2018).

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Adoption Trend

Table 4: Adoption trend (2014–2021)

Unit: t OW composted/yr/yr

25th percentile -1,200,000
mean -1,300,000
median (50th percentile) 260,000
75th percentile 4,300,000
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We used OECD data to estimate the composting adoption trend from 2014–2021 (OECD, 2021), which fluctuated significantly from year to year (Table 4). Negative rates indicate less OW was composted globally than in the previous year. Taking the median composting rate across seven years, we estimate the global composting trend as 260,000 t OW/yr/yr. However, the mean composting trend is –1.3 Mt OW/yr/yr, suggesting that on average, composting rates are decreasing globally. 

Although some regions are increasing their composting capacity, others are either not composting or composting less over time. Germany, Italy, Spain, and the EU overall consistently show increases in composting rates year-to-year, while Greece, Japan, Türkiye, and the U.K. show decreasing composting rates. In Europe, the main drivers for consistent adoption were disposal costs, financial penalties, and the landfill directive (Ayilara et al., 2020). 

Lack of reported data could also contribute to a negative global average composting rate over the past seven years. A large decline in composting rates from 2018–2019 was driven by a lack of data in 2019 for the U.S. and Canada. If we assumed that the U.S. composted the same tonnage in 2019 as in 2018, instead of no tonnage as reported in the data, then the annual trend for 2018–2019 is much less negative (–450,000 t OW/yr/yr) and the overall mean trend between 2014–2019 would be positive (1,400,000 t OW/yr/yr).

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Adoption Ceiling

Table 5: Adoption ceiling. upper limit for adoption level.

Unit: t OW composted/yr

median (50th percentile) 991,000,000
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We estimate the global adoption ceiling for Increase Centralized Composting to be 991 million t OW/yr (Table 5). In 2016, 2.01 Gt of MSW were generated, and generation is expected to increase to 3.4 Gt by 2050 (Kaza et al., 2018). Due to limited global data availability on composting infrastructure or policies, we estimated the adoption ceiling based on the projected total MSW for 2050 and assumed the OW fraction remains the same over time.

In reality, amounts of food waste within MSW are also increasing, suggesting that there are sufficient global feedstocks to support widespread composting adoption (Zhu et al., 2023). 

We assume that 75% of OW could be processed via composting and the remaining 25% via methane digesters (see Deploy Methane Digesters). Biowaste from MSW makes up approximately 15% of incoming feedstocks for methane digesters (IEA, 2025). 

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Achievable Adoption

Table 6. Range of achievable adoption levels.

Unit: t OW composted/yr

Current Adoption 78,000,000
Achievable – Low 156,000,000
Achievable – High 244,000,000
Adoption Ceiling 91,000,000
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Since the global annual trend fluctuates, we used country-specific composting rates and organic fractions of MSW from 2018 to estimate the achievable range of composting adoption (see Appendix for an example). In our analysis, achievable increases in country-specific composting rates cannot exceed the total organic fraction of 2018 MSW. 

For the 106 countries/territories that did not report composting rates, we defined achievable levels of composting relative to the fraction of OW in MSW. When countries also did not report OW percentages, the country-specific composting rate was kept at zero. For the remaining 86 countries/territories, we assumed that 25% of organic MSW could be diverted to composting for low achievable adoption and that 50% could be diverted for high achievable adoption. 

For the 68 countries/territories with reported composting rates, we define low and high achievable adoption as a 25% or 50% increase to the country-specific composting rate, respectively. If the increased rate for either low or high adoption exceeded the country-specific OW fraction of MSW, we assumed that all organic MSW could be composted (see Appendix for an example). Our Achievable – Low adoption level is 156 Mt OW/yr, or 16% of our estimated adoption ceiling. Our Achievable – High adoption level is 244 Mt OW/yr, or 25% of our estimated adoption ceiling. 

Our estimated adoption levels are conservative because some regions without centralized composting of MSW could have subnational decentralized composting programs that aren’t reflected in global data.

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Table 7. Climate impact at different levels of adoption.

Unit: Gt CO₂‑eq (100-yr basis)/yr

Current Adoption 0.30
Achievable – Low 0.60
Achievable – High 0.95
Adoption Ceiling 3.8
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Although our achievable range is conservative compared to the estimated adoption ceiling, increased composting has the potential to reduce GHG emissions from landfills (Table 7). We estimated that current adoption reduces annual GHG emissions by 0.3 Gt CO₂‑eq/yr (0.73 Gt CO₂‑eq/yr, 20-yr basis). Our estimated low and high achievable adoption levels reduce 0.60 and 0.95 Gt CO₂‑eq/yr (1.4 and 2.3 Gt CO₂‑eq/yr, 20-yr basis), respectively. Using the adoption ceiling, we estimate that annual GHG reductions increase to 3.8 Gt CO₂‑eq/yr (9.2 Gt CO₂‑eq/yr, 20-yr basis).

The IPCC estimated in 2023 that the entire waste sector accounted for 3.9% of total global GHG emissions, and solid waste management represented 36% of total waste sector emissions (IPCC, 2023). Disposal of waste in landfills leads to methane emissions estimated at nearly 1.9 Gt CO₂‑eq (100-yr basis) annually (IEA, 2024). Based on these estimates, current composting adoption reduces annual methane emissions from landfills more than 16%. 

Increasing adoption to low and high achievable levels could reduce the amount of OW going to landfills by up to 40% and avoid 32–50% of landfill emissions. Reaching our estimated adoption ceilings for both Increase Centralized Composting and Deploy Methane Digesters solutions could avoid all food-related landfill emissions.

These climate impacts can be considered underestimates of beneficial mitigation from increased composting since we did not quantify the carbon sequestration benefits of compost application and reduced synthetic fertilizer use. Our estimated climate impacts from composting are also an underestimate because we didn’t include decentralized composting. 

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Additional Benefits

Income and Work

Composting creates more jobs than landfills or incinerators and can save money compared with other waste management options (Bekchanov & Mirzabaev, 2018; Farhidi et al., 2022; Platt et al., 2013; Zaman, 2016). It is less expensive to build and maintain composting plants than incinerators (Kawai et al., 2020). According to a survey of Maryland waste sites, composting creates twice as many jobs as landfills and four times as many jobs as incineration plants (Platt et al., 2013). Composting also indirectly sustains jobs in the distribution and use of compost products (Platt et al., 2013). Compost is rich in nutrients and can also reduce costs associated with synthetic fertilizer use in agriculture (Farhidi et al., 2022).

Health

Composting can reduce exposures to landfill and waste-to-energy facility emissions, which have been linked to health issues such as lung cancer, respiratory and neurological problems, low birth weight, and birth defects (Brender et al., 2011; Industrious Labs, 2024; Nguyen et al., 2023; Siddiqua et al., 2022). Odors coming from anaerobic decomposition landfills, such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, are another source of pollutants that impact human well-being, which can be reduced by aerobic composting (Cai et al., 2018).

Equality

Reducing community exposure to air pollution from landfills through composting has implications for environmental justice (Casey et al., 2021; Nguyen et al., 2023). A large review of waste sites in the United States and Europe found that landfills are disproportionately located near populations with low socioeconomic status and near racially and ethnically marginalized neighborhoods (Marzutti et al., 2010). Reducing disproportionate exposures to air pollution from landfills may mitigate poor health outcomes in surrounding communities (Brender et al., 2011)

Land Resources

Compost provides an important soil amendment that adds organic matter and nutrients to soil, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers (Urra et al., 2019; U.S. EPA, 2025). Healthy soils that are rich in organic matter can benefit the surrounding ecosystem and watershed and lead to more plant growth through improved water retention and filtration, improved soil quality and structure, and reduced erosion and nutrient runoff (Bell & Platt, 2014; Martinez-Blanco et al., 2013; U.S. EPA, 2025). By reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and by improving soils’ ability to filter and conserve water, compost can also reduce eutrophication of water bodies (U.S. EPA, 2025). These soil benefits are partially dependent on how compost is sorted because there may be risks associated with contamination of microplastics and heavy metals (Manea et al., 2024; Urra et al., 2019).

Water Resources

For a description of the water resources benefits, please refer to the “land resources” subsection. 

Air Quality

Composting can reduce air pollution such as CO₂, methane, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter that is commonly released from landfills and waste-to-energy systems (Kawai et al., 2020; Nordahl et al., 2020; Siddiqua et al., 2022). An analysis comparing emissions from MSW systems found composting to have lower emissions than landfilling and other waste-to-energy streams (Nordahl et al., 2020). Composting can also reduce the incidence of landfill fires, which release black carbon and carbon monoxide, posing risks to the health and safety of people in nearby communities (Nguyen et al., 2023).

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Risks

Before the composting process can start, feedstocks are sorted to remove potential contaminants, including nonbiodegradable materials such as metal and glass as well as plastics, bioplastics, and paper products (Kawai et al., 2020; Perez et al., 2023; Wilson et al., 2024). While most contaminants can be removed through a variety of manual and mechanical sorting techniques, heavy metals and microplastics can become potential safety hazards or reduce finished compost quality (Manea et al., 2024). Paper and cardboard should be separated from food and green waste streams because they often contain contaminants such as glue or ink, and they degrade more slowly than other OW, leading to longer processing time and lower-quality finished compost (Kawai et al., 2020; Krause et al., 2023).

Successful and safe composting requires careful monitoring of compost piles to avoid anaerobic conditions and ensure sufficient temperatures to kill pathogens and weed seeds (Amuah et al., 2022; Ayilara et al., 2020; Cao et al., 2023; Kawai et al., 2020; Manea et al., 2024). Anaerobic conditions within the compost pile increase GHGs emitted during composting. Poorly managed composting facilities can also pose safety risks for workers and release odors, leading to community backlash (Cao et al., 2023; Manea et al., 2024; UNEP, 2024). Regional standards, certifications, and composter training programs are necessary to protect workers from hazardous conditions and to guarantee a safe and effective compost product (Kawai et al., 2020). Community outreach and education on the benefits of separating waste and composting prevent “not-in-my-backyard” attitudes or “NIMBYism” that may lead to siting composting facilities further from the communities they serve.

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Interactions with Other Solutions

Reinforcing

Increased composting could positively impact annual cropping by providing consistent, high-quality finished compost that can reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers and improve soil health and crop yields. 

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High-quality sorting systems also allow for synergies that benefit all waste streams and create flexible, resilient waste management systems. Improving waste separation programs for composting can have spillover effects that also improve other waste streams, such as recyclables, agricultural waste, or e-waste. Access to well-sorted materials can also help with nutrient balance for various waste streams, including agricultural waste.

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Composting facilities require a reliable source of carbon-rich bulking material. Agricultural waste can be diverted to composting rather than burning to reduce emissions from crop residue burning. 

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Competing

Diverting OW from landfills will lead to lower landfill methane emissions and, therefore, less methane available to be captured and resold as revenue.

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OW diverted from landfills can also be managed using anaerobic digestion in methane digesters, which reduces the available volumes of OW for composting.

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Dashboard

Solution Basics

t organic waste

t CO₂-eq (100-yr)/unit
02.53.9
units/yr
Current 7.8×10⁷ 01.56×10⁸2.44×10⁸
Achievable (Low to High)

Climate Impact

Gt CO₂-eq (100-yr)/yr
Current 0.3 0.60.95
US$ per t CO₂-eq
10
Emergency Brake

CO₂,  CH₄

Trade-offs

Robust collection networks and source separation of OW are vital for successful composting, but they also increase investment costs. However, well-sorted OW can reduce the need for separation equipment and allow for simpler facility designs, leading to lower operational costs. The emissions from transporting OW are not included here, but are expected to be significantly less than the avoided landfill emissions. Composting facilities are typically located close to the source of OW (Kawai et al., 2020; U.S. Composting Council [USCC], 2008), but since centralized composting facilities are designed to serve large communities and municipalities, there can be trade-offs between sufficient land availability and distance from waste sources.

We also exclude emissions from onsite vehicles and equipment such as bulldozers and compactors, assuming that those emissions are small compared to the landfill itself.

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Action Word
Increase
Solution Title
Centralized Composting
Classification
Highly Recommended
Lawmakers and Policymakers
  • Establish zero waste and OW diversion goals; incorporate them into local or national climate plans and soil health and conservation policies.
  • Ensure public procurement uses local compost when possible.
  • Participate in consultations with farmers, businesses, and the public to determine where to place plants, how to use compost, pricing, and how to roll out programs.
  • Establish or improve existing centralized composting facilities, collection networks, and storage facilities.
  • Establish incentives and programs to encourage both centralized and decentralized composting.
  • Work with farmers, local gardeners, the private sector, and local park systems to develop markets for compost.
  • Invest in source separation education and waste separation technology that enhances the quality of final compost products.
  • Regulate the use of waste separation technologies to prioritize source separation of waste and the quality of compost products.
  • Ensure low- and middle-income households are served by composting programs with particular attention to underserved communities such as multi-family buildings and rural households.
  • Enact extended producer responsibility approaches that hold producers accountable for waste.
  • Create demonstration projects to show the effectiveness and safety of finished compost.
  • Ensure composting plants are placed as close to farmland as possible and do not adversely affect surrounding communities.
  • Streamline permitting processes for centralized compost facilities and infrastructure.
  • Establish laws or regulations that require waste separation as close to the source as possible, ensuring the rules are effective and practical.
  • Establish zoning policies that support both centralized and decentralized composting efforts, including at the industrial, agricultural, community, and backyard scales.
  • Establish fees or fines for OW going to landfills; use funds for composting programs.
  • Use financial instruments such as taxes, subsidies, or exemptions to support infrastructure, participation, and waste separation.
  • Partner with schools, community gardens, farms, nonprofits, women’s groups, and other community organizations to promote composting and teach the importance of waste separation.
  • Establish one-stop-shop educational programs that use online and in-person methods to teach how to separate waste effectively and why it’s important.
  • If composting is not possible or additional infrastructure is needed, consider methane digesters as alternatives to composting.
  • Create, support, or join certification programs that verify the quality of compost and/or verify food waste suppliers such as hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

Further information:

Practitioners
  • Work with policymakers and local communities to establish zero-waste and OW diversion goals for local or national climate plans.
  • Participate in consultations with farmers, policymakers, businesses, and the public to determine where to place plants, how to use compost, pricing, and how to roll out programs.
  • Work with farmers, local gardeners, the private sector, and local park systems to create quality supply streams and develop markets for compost.
  • Invest in source separation education and waste separation technology that enhances the quality of final compost products.
  • Establish one-stop-shop educational programs that use online and in-person methods to teach how to separate waste effectively and why that’s important.
  • Ensure low- and middle-income households are served by composting programs with particular attention to underserved communities such as multi-family buildings and rural households.
  • Create demonstration projects to show the effectiveness and safety of finished compost.
  • Ensure composting plants are placed as close to farmland as possible and do not adversely affect surrounding communities.
  • Take advantage of financial incentives such as subsidies or exemptions to set up centralized composting infrastructure, increase participation, and improve waste separation.
  • Partner with schools, community gardens, farms, nonprofits, women’s groups, and other community organizations to promote composting and teach the importance of waste separation.
  • Consider partnerships through initiatives such as sister cities to share innovation and develop capacity.
  • If additional infrastructure is needed, consider methane digesters as alternatives to composting.
  • Create, support, or join certification programs that verify the quality of compost and/or verify food waste suppliers such as hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

Further information:

Business Leaders
  • Establish zero-waste and OW diversion goals; incorporate the goals into corporate net-zero strategies.
  • Ensure procurement uses strategies to reduce FLW at all stages of the supply chain; consider using the Food Loss and Waste Protocol.
  • Ensure corporate procurement and facilities managers use local compost when possible.
  • Participate in consultations with farmers, policymakers, and the public to determine where to place plants, how to use compost, pricing, and how to roll out programs.
  • Work with farmers, local gardeners, the private sector, and local park systems to develop markets for compost.
  • Offer employee pre-tax benefits on materials to compost at home or participate in municipal composting programs.
  • Offer financial services, including low-interest loans, microfinancing, and grants, to support composting initiatives.
  • Support extended producer responsibility approaches that hold producers accountable for waste.
  • Educate employees on the benefits of composting, include them in companywide waste diversion initiatives, and encourage them to use and advocate for municipal composting in their communities. Clearly label containers and signage for composting.
  • Partner with schools, community gardens, farms, nonprofits, women’s groups, and other community organizations to promote composting and teach the importance of waste separation.
  • Create, support, or join certification programs that verify the quality of compost and/or verify food waste suppliers such as hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

Further information:

Nonprofit Leaders
  • Help policymakers establish zero-waste and OW diversion goals; help incorporate them into local or national climate plans.
  • Ensure organizational procurement uses local compost when possible.
  • Help administer, fund, or promote local composting programs.
  • Help gather data on local OW streams, potential markets, and comparisons of alternative uses such as methane digesters.
  • Participate in consultations with farmers, policymakers, businesses, and the public to determine where to place plants, how to use compost, pricing, and how to roll out programs.
  • Work with farmers, local gardeners, the private sector, and local park systems to develop markets for compost.
  • Help ensure low- and middle-income households are served by composting programs with particular attention to underserved communities such as multi-family buildings and rural households.
  • Advocate for extended producer responsibility approaches that hold producers accountable for waste.
  • Advocate for laws or regulations that require waste separation as close to the source as possible, ensuring the rules are effective and practical.
  • Create demonstration projects to show the effectiveness and safety of finished compost.
  • Establish one-stop-shop educational programs that use online and in-person methods to teach how to separate waste effectively and why that’s important.
  • Partner with schools, community gardens, farms, nonprofits, women’s groups, and other community organizations to promote composting and teach the importance of waste separation.
  • Create, support, or join certification programs that verify the quality of compost and/or verify food waste suppliers such as hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

Further information:

Investors
  • Ensure relevant portfolio companies separate waste streams, contribute to compost programs, and/or use finished compost.
  • Invest in companies developing composting programs or technologies that support the process, such as equipment, circular supply chains, and consumer products.
  • Fund start-ups or existing companies that are improving waste separation technology that enhances the quality of final compost products.
  • Offer financial services, including low-interest loans, microfinancing, and grants, to support composting initiatives.
  • Invest in companies that adhere to extended producer responsibility or encourage portfolio companies to adopt the policies.

Further information:

Philanthropists and International Aid Agencies
  • Help policymakers establish zero-waste and OW diversion goals; help incorporate them into local or national climate plans.
  • Advocate for businesses to establish time-bound and transparent zero-waste and OW diversion goals.
  • Advocate for extended producer responsibility approaches that hold producers accountable for waste.
  • Provide financing and capacity building for low- and middle-income countries to establish composting infrastructure and programs.
  • Help administer, fund, or promote composting programs.
  • Invest in companies developing composting programs or technologies that support the process, such as equipment, circular supply chains, and consumer products.
  • Fund startups or existing companies that are improving waste separation technology that enhances the quality of final compost products.
  • Incubate and fund mission-driven organizations and cooperatives that are advancing OW composting.
  • Offer financial services, including low-interest loans, microfinancing, and grants, to support composting initiatives.
  • Participate in consultations with farmers, policymakers, businesses, and the public to determine where to place plants, how to use compost, pricing, and how to roll out programs.
  • Work with farmers, local gardeners, the private sector, and local park systems to develop markets for compost.
  • Help ensure low- and middle-income households are served by composting programs, with particular attention to underserved communities such as multifamily buildings and rural households.
  • Advocate for laws or regulations that require waste separation as close to the source as possible, ensuring the rules are effective and practical.
  • Create demonstration projects to show the effectiveness and safety of finished compost.
  • Research and enact effective composting promotional strategies.
  • Establish one-stop-shop educational programs that use online and in-person methods to teach how to separate waste effectively and why that’s important.
  • Partner with schools, community gardens, farms, nonprofits, women’s groups, and other community organizations to promote composting and teach the importance of waste separation.
  • Create, support, or join certification programs that verify the quality of compost and/or verify food waste suppliers such as hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

Further information:

Thought Leaders
  • Participate in and promote centralized, community, or household composting programs, if available, and carefully sort OW from other waste streams.
  • If no centralized composting system exists, work with local experts to establish household and community composting systems.
  • Help policymakers establish zero-waste and OW diversion goals; help incorporate them into local or national climate plans.
  • Start cooperatives that provide services and/or equipment for composting.
  • Participate in consultations with farmers, policymakers, businesses, and the public to determine where to place plants, how to use compost, pricing, and how to roll out programs.
  • Help gather data on local OW streams, potential markets, and comparisons of alternative uses such as methane digesters.
  • Help develop waste separation technology that enhances the quality of final compost products and/or improve educational programs on waste separation.
  • Develop innovative governance models for local composting programs; publicly document your experiences.
  • Work with farmers, local gardeners, the private sector, and local park systems to develop markets for compost.
  • Advocate for extended producer responsibility approaches that hold producers accountable for waste.
  • Advocate for laws or regulations that require waste separation as close to the source as possible, ensuring the rules are effective and practical.
  • Create demonstration projects to show the effectiveness and safety of finished compost.
  • Create, support, or join certification programs that verify the quality of compost.
  • Research various governance models for local composting programs and outline options for communities to consider.
  • Research and enact effective composting campaign strategies.
  • Create, support, or join certification programs that verify the quality of compost and/or verify food waste suppliers such as hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

Further information:

Technologists and Researchers
  • Quantify estimates of OW both locally and globally; estimate the associated potential compost output.
  • Improve waste separation technology to improve the quality of finished compost.
  • Create tracking and monitoring software for OW streams, possible uses, markets, and pricing.
  • Research the application of AI and robotics for optimal uses of OW streams, separation, collection, distribution, and uses.
  • Research various governance models for local composting programs and outline options for communities to consider.
  • Research effective composting campaign strategies and how to encourage participation from individuals.

Further information:

Communities, Households, and Individuals
  • Participate in and promote centralized composting programs, if available, and carefully sort OW from other waste.
  • If no centralized composting system exists, work with local experts to establish household and community composting systems.
  • Participate in consultations with farmers, policymakers, and businesses to determine where to place plants, how to use compost, pricing, and how to roll out programs.
  • Take advantage of educational programs, financial incentives, employee benefits, and other programs that facilitate composting.
  • Advocate for extended producer responsibility approaches that hold producers accountable for waste.
  • Advocate for laws or regulations that require waste separation, ensuring the rules are effective and practical.
  • Partner with schools, community gardens, farms, nonprofits, women’s groups, and other community organizations to promote composting and teach the importance of waste separation.
  • Create, support, or join certification programs that verify the quality of compost and/or verify food waste suppliers such as hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

Further information:

Sources
Evidence Base

The scientific consensus on composting as a climate solution is high. Composting reduces OW, prevents pollution and GHG emissions from landfilled OW, and creates soil amendments that can reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers (Kaza et al., 2018; Manea et al., 2024). Although we do not quantify carbon sequestration from compost use in this analysis, a full life-cycle analysis that includes application could result in net negative emissions for composting (Morris et al., 2013).

Globally, the waste sector was responsible for an estimated 3.9% of total global GHG emissions in 2023, and solid waste management represented 36% of those emissions (IPCC, 2023; United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP], 2024). Emissions estimates based on satellite and field measurements from landfills or direct measurements of carbon content in food waste can be significantly higher than IPCC Tier 1-based estimates. Reviews of global waste management estimated that food loss and waste account for around 6% of global emissions or approximately 2.8 Gt CO₂‑eq/yr (Wilson et al., 2024; Zhu et al., 2023). Facility-scale composting reduces emissions 38–84% relative to landfilling (Perez et al., 2023), and monitoring and managing the moisture content, aeration, and carbon to nitrogen ratios can further reduce emissions (Ayilara et al., 2020).

Unclear legislation and regulation for MSW composting can prevent adoption, and there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to composting (Cao et al., 2023). Regardless of the method used, composting converts OW into a nutrient-rich resource and typically reduces incoming waste volumes 40–60% in the process (Cao et al., 2023; Kaza et al., 2018). A comparative cost and energy analysis of MSW components highlighted that while composting adoption varies geographically and economically, environmental benefits also depend on geography and income (Zaman, 2016). Food and green waste percentages of MSW are higher in lower-resourced countries than in high-income countries due to less packaging, and more than one-third of waste in high-income countries is recovered through recycling and composting (Kaza et al., 2018).

The results presented in this document summarize findings from 22 reports, 31 reviews, 12 original studies, two books, nine web articles, one fact sheet, and three data sets reflecting the most recent evidence for more than 200 countries and territories. 

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Appendix

Global MSW Generation and Disposal

Analysis of MSW in this section is based on the 2018 What a Waste 2.0 global dataset and report as well as the references cited in the report (Kaza et al., 2018; World Bank 2018). In 2018, approximately 2 Gt of waste was generated globally. Most of that went to landfills (41%) and open dumps (22%). Out of 217 countries and territories, 24 sent more than 80% of all MSW to landfills and 3 countries reported landfilling 100% of MSW. The average across all countries/territories was 28% of MSW disposed of in landfills. Both controlled and sanitary landfills with gas capture systems are included in the total landfilled percentage.

Approximately 13% of MSW was treated through recycling and 13% through incineration, but slightly more waste was incinerated than recycled per year. Incineration was predominately used in upper-middle and high-income countries with negligible amounts of waste incinerated in low- and lower-middle income countries.

Globally, only about 5% of MSW was composted and nearly no MSW was processed via methane digestion. However, OW made up nearly 40% of global MSW, so most OW was processed through landfilling, open dumping, and incineration all of which result in significant GHG emissions and pollution. There is ample opportunity to divert more OW from polluting disposal methods toward composting. Due to lack of data on open dumping, and since incineration only accounts for 1% of global GHG emissions, we chose landfilling as our baseline disposal method for comparison.

In addition to MSW, other waste streams include medical waste, e-waste, hazardous waste, and agricultural waste. Global agricultural waste generation in 2018 was more than double total MSW (Kaza et al., 2018). Although these specialized waste streams are treated separately from MSW, integrated waste management systems with high-quality source separation programs could supplement organic MSW with agricultural waste. Rather than being burned or composted on-farm, agricultural waste can provide bulking materials that are critical for maintaining moisture levels and nutrient balance in the compost pile, as well as scaling up composting operations. 

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Details of a Composting System and Process

Successful centralized composting starts with collection and separation of OW from other waste streams, ideally at the source of waste generation. Financial and regulatory barriers can hinder creation or expansion of composting infrastructure. Composting systems require both facilities and robust collection networks to properly separate OW from nonbiodegradable MSW and transport OW to facilities. Mixed waste streams increase contamination risks with incoming feedstocks, so separation of waste materials at the source of generation is ideal. 

Establishing OW collection presents a financial and logistical barrier to increased composting adoption (Kawai et al., 2020; Kaza et al., 2018). However, when considering a full cost-chain analysis that includes collection, transportation, and treatment, systems that rely on source-separated OW can be more cost-effective than facilities that process mixed organics. 

OW and inorganic waste can also be sorted at facilities manually or mechanically with automated techniques including electromagnetic separation, ferrous metal separation, and sieving or screening (Kawai et al., 2020). Although separation can be highly labor-intensive, it’s necessary to remove potential contaminants, such as plastics, heavy metals, glass, and other nonbiodegradable or hazardous waste components (Kawai et al., 2020; Manea et al., 2024). After removing contaminants, organic materials are pre-processed and mixed to achieve the appropriate combination of water, oxygen, and solids for optimal aerobic conditions during the composting process. 

Regardless of the specific composting method used, aerobic fermentation is achieved by monitoring and balancing key parameters within the compost pile. Key parameters are moisture content, temperature, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, aeration, pH, and porosity (Cao et al., 2023; Kawai et al., 2020; Manea et al., 2024). The aerobic fermentation process can be split into distinct stages based on whether mesophilic (active at 20–40 oC) or thermophilic (active at 40–70 oC) bacteria and fungi dominate. Compost piles are constructed to allow for sufficient aeration while optimizing moisture content (50–60%) and the initial carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (25:1–40:1), depending on composting method and feedstocks (Amuah et al., 2022; Manea et al, 2024). Optimal carbon-to-nitrogen ratios are achieved through appropriate mixing of carbon-rich “brown” materials, such as sawdust or dry leaves, with nitrogen-rich “green” materials, such as food waste or manure (Manea et al., 2024). During the thermophilic stage, temperatures exceeding 62 oC are necessary to kill most biogenic pathogens and weed seeds (Amuah et al., 2022; Ayilara et al., 2020).

Throughout the composting process key nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium), are mineralized and mobilized and microorganisms release GHGs and heat as by-products of their activity (Manea et al., 2024; Nordahl et al., 2023). Water is added iteratively to maintain moisture content and temperature in the optimal ranges, and frequent turning and aeration are necessary to ensure microorganisms have enough oxygen. Without the proper balance of oxygen and water, anaerobic conditions can lead to higher methane emissions (Amuah et al., 2022; Manea et al., 2024). Although CO₂, methane, and nitrous oxide are released during the process, these emissions are significantly lower than associated emissions from landfilling (Ayilara et al., 2020; Cao et al., 2023; FAO, 2019; Perez et al., 2023).

Once aerobic fermentation is completed, compost goes through a maturation stage where nutrients are stabilized before finished compost can be sold or used as a soil amendment. In stable compost, microbial decomposition slows until nutrients no longer break down, but can be absorbed by plants. Longer maturation phases reduce the proportion of soluble nutrients that could potentially leach into soils. 

The baseline waste management method of landfilling OW is cheaper than composting; however it also leads to significant annual GHG emissions. Composting, although more expensive due to higher labor and operating costs, reduces emissions and produces a valuable soil amendment. Establishing a composting program can have significant financial risks without an existing market for finished compost products (Bogner et al., 2007; Kawai et al., 2020; UNEP, 2024).

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Example Calculation of Achievable Adoption

In 2018, Austria had the highest composting rate of 31.2%, and Vietnam composted 15% of MSW (World Bank, 2018). 

For low adoption, we assumed composting increases by 25% of the existing rate or until all OW in MSW is composted. In Austria, OW made up 31.4% of MSW in 2018, so the Adoption – Low composting rate was 31.4%. In Vietnam, the Adoption – Low composting rate came out to 18.75%, which is still less than the total OW percentage of MSW (61.9%).

For high adoption, we assumed that composting rates increase by 50% of the existing rate or until all OW in MSW is composted. So high adoption in Austria remains 31.4% (i.e., all OW generated in Austria is composted). In Vietnam, the high adoption composting rate increases to 22.5% but still doesn’t capture all OW generated (61.9% of MSW).

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