Municipal Organics Digestion: The Power of the Green Bin

The collection and efficient utilization of source-separate organics are on the rise across Canada and the US, and anaerobic digestion is well-positioned to manage these resources effectively. Unavoidable food wastes that cannot be otherwise diverted can create green energy, powering their own diversion and aiding municipalities in their transition to a circular economy.

The efficient management of municipal food waste provides multiple benefits for their communities, from producing energy locally to nutrient recovery and reducing the reliance on landfills. As cities grow and food output multiplies, so too does food waste and loss across the value chain. Policy tools such as landfill organics bans can be highly effective for not only reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills but also creating an opportunity for us to discuss waste reduction strategies and new approaches to resource recovery. As a technology that is commercialized, scalable, and ready for wider implementation, anaerobic digestion (AD) of source-separated organics (SSO) will be one of these key tools for us in the recovery of food waste streams.

Millions of tons of food waste are produced each year, which is considered ‘unavoidable’ (in Canada, it is 12.35 million tons). In the US, an estimated 30-40% of the food supply becomes food waste.[i] This unavoidable waste occurs in areas such as at harvest, through logistics and distribution, in processing, and in households.[ii] Some companies are already leading this charge, partnering with grocery stores and food distributors to manage food waste at the retail and distribution levels.[iii]

Supportive policies encouraging the co-digestion of food waste at agricultural digesters and wastewater treatment plants can also increase access and decrease logistical burdens that managing these food waste streams might have. Food loss due to weather, pests, or disease could be processed at either on-site or neighboring digesters. For rural municipalities, access to agricultural digesters or wastewater treatment plants with underutilized capacities could assist with meeting their diversion goals and increase the productivity of these digesters.[iv] This opportunity is not without its challenges, however, as there are a number of issues related to quality control, variability, and regulation that require solutions if this option is to be pursued.[v]

In Canada, just 1.2% of food waste is processed via AD, with another 25% composted and 30% sent to landfills, and in the US, landfilling rates are as high as 60%.[vi] [vii] With just over 20 facilities in Canada and over 100 in the US (dedicated SSO & co-digestion combined), the recovery of source-separated organics remains severely underutilized as a management strategy.[viii] [ix] Unlike more common management strategies, such as composting, AD is able to process a higher volume of waste in a smaller geographic footprint. In addition, where large-scale composting creates an energy demand for aerating or turning, AD produces energy.[x]

Some states and provinces have already implemented diversion policies to increase diversion rates and the beneficial use of resources. The Northeastern states, California and Washington, have implemented requirements for large-scale commercial food waste producers to recycle organic waste. Some cities, such as Portland, Boulder, and Austin, have even begun implementing policies where states are lacking.[xi] In Canada, Nova Scotia was the first province to implement a landfill organics ban in 1998, followed by Prince Edward Island in 2002 and Metro Vancouver in 2015.[xii] As of January 1, 2025, Ontario became the latest province to implement a ban.[xiii]

91% of Canadians live in areas with organics management programs in place, and 71% have access to SSO collection programs.[xiv] Yet still, more organics are landfilled than digested or composted combined. Much of the US lacks diversion policies encouraging the separate collection and processing of organics. As a result, much infrastructure is also required to more effectively manage these waste streams.

There is an undeniable reason for optimism, however, with many companies announcing the development of new food waste digesters and cities leading where states and provinces may be failing, too. Across the continent, ‘waste’ is slowly no longer being wasted. Although there is more work still to do, change is in motion, and it’s a change that supports us all.

Index

[i] USDA. N.d. “Why should we care about food waste?” https://www.usda.gov/foodlossandwaste/why

[ii] Gooch, M., Nikkel, L Bucknell, D., Marchildon, J. LaPlain, D., Whitehead, P., Chin Sang, G. (2024). The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste Update; Second Harvest and Value Chain Management International; Ontario, Canada

[iii] Business Wire. February 20, 2025. “Giant Food and Divert, Inc. Prevent Nearly 80 Million Pounds of Unsold Food from Being Wasted.” https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220191969/en/Giant-Food-and-Divert-Inc.-Prevent-Nearly-80-Million-Pounds-of-Unsold-Food-from-Being-Wasted

[iv] 3BL Media. December 13, 2024. “Anaerobic Digestion in Canada: One More Step to Solving the Climate Crisis.” https://www.3blmedia.com/news/anaerobic-digestion-canada-one-more-step-solving-climate-crisis

[v] 3BL Media. February 28, 2025. “Co-Digestion of Food Organics at Wastewater Treatment Plants: Challenges and Opportunities.” https://www.3blmedia.com/news/co-digestion-food-organics-wastewater-treatment-plants-challenges-and-opportunities

[vi] Gooch, M., et. al. (2024). The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste Update

[vii] Shelley Mann. February 14, 2025. “American Biogas Council reports record investment in biogas systems.” https://www.wastetodaymagazine.com/news/american-biogas-council-reports-record-investment-in-biogas-systems/

[viii] BiogasWorld. 2025. “Canada: List of Biogas Facilities.” https://biogascommunity.com/business-intelligence/

[ix] Shelley Mann. February 14, 2025. “American Biogas Council reports record investment in biogas systems.”

[x] CHOMP. n.d. “Anaerobic Digestion vs. Composting: Choosing the Best Organic Waste Management Method.” https://www.chomp.energy/blog/post/anaerobic-digestion-vs-composting-choosing-the-best-organic-waste-management-method

[xi] Vanguard Renewables. n.d. “Organic Waste Bans.” https://www.vanguardrenewables.com/organic-waste-bans

[xii] 3BL Media. December 13, 2024. “Anaerobic Digestion in Canada: One More Step to Solving the Climate Crisis.”

[xiii] Power Knot. January 27, 2025. “Canada Bans Organic Waste from Landfills in 2025.” https://powerknot.com/2025/01/27/canada-bans-organic-waste-from-landfills-in-2025/

[xiv] BioCycle. August 9, 2021. “New Study Analyzes Organics Recycling In Canada.” https://www.biocycle.net/new-study-analyzes-organics-recycling-in-canada/