{
  "slug": "compost-diversion-savings",
  "title": "Compost Diversion Savings Calculator",
  "heading": "Food Waste Composting Savings Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/compost-diversion-savings",
  "summary": "Cost and emissions savings from composting instead of landfilling food waste.",
  "description": "Composting organic waste avoids both the landfill tip fee and the methane emissions that food waste would otherwise generate, making it one of the better dollar-per-ton and carbon-per-ton investments in a waste program. This calculator compares the cost of your current food waste disposal (landfill hauling and tip fees) against a composting or organics collection program, and separately estimates the methane emissions avoided using EPA WARM-consistent factors. Many municipalities and states now mandate commercial organics diversion above a certain waste-generation threshold (California SB 1383, several Northeast states), so this also functions as a compliance cost estimate — showing whether the composting service actually costs more or less than the alternative once avoided landfill tip fees are netted out.",
  "formula": "Net cost/savings = (landfill hauling+tip cost) − (compost hauling+tip cost). Emissions avoided = organic tons × CH4 factor × GWP.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=compost-diversion-savings",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "foodWasteTons",
      "label": "Food/organic waste generated",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 60,
      "unit": "tons/yr",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "landfillCost",
      "label": "Landfill hauling + tip cost",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 75,
      "unit": "$/ton",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "compostCost",
      "label": "Composting service cost",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 55,
      "unit": "$/ton",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "ch4Factor",
      "label": "CH4 generation factor",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 90,
      "unit": "kg CH4/ton",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "savings",
      "label": "Annual net savings",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "landfillTotal",
      "label": "Current landfill cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "compostTotal",
      "label": "Composting service cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "emissionsAvoidedTons",
      "label": "Methane emissions avoided (CO2e)",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Food/organic waste generated: 60 tons/yr",
      "Landfill hauling + tip cost: 75 $/ton",
      "Composting service cost: 55 $/ton",
      "CH4 generation factor: 90 kg CH4/ton"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Annual net savings: $1,200",
      "Current landfill cost: $4,500",
      "Composting service cost: $3,300",
      "Methane emissions avoided (CO2e): 151.2"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter food/organic waste generated (tons/yr).",
      "Enter landfill hauling + tip cost ($/ton).",
      "Enter composting service cost ($/ton).",
      "Enter ch4 generation factor (kg CH4/ton).",
      "Read your annual net savings on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "foodWasteTons": 35,
        "landfillCost": 45,
        "compostCost": 35,
        "ch4Factor": 55
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "foodWasteTons": 60,
        "landfillCost": 75,
        "compostCost": 55,
        "ch4Factor": 90
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "foodWasteTons": 95,
        "landfillCost": 120,
        "compostCost": 90,
        "ch4Factor": 145
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Is composting always cheaper than landfilling?",
      "a": "Not always — it depends heavily on local hauler availability and contamination rates. In markets with a mature organics hauling infrastructure it's often cheaper per ton than landfill tip fees; in markets without nearby composting facilities, hauling distance can make it more expensive despite the environmental benefit, which is common in more rural areas."
    },
    {
      "q": "What states or cities require commercial composting?",
      "a": "California's SB 1383 requires organics recycling for most businesses generating waste above state thresholds, with local jurisdictions enforcing it. Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York City have similar commercial organics mandates, and more states are adopting these rules, so check your local requirements even if this calculator shows a net cost."
    },
    {
      "q": "How does contamination affect compost program cost?",
      "a": "Composting facilities often charge higher tip fees or reject loads with excessive plastic or non-organic contamination, since it costs them to screen it out before processing. Investing in clear signage and staff training to keep the organics stream clean is usually cheaper than absorbing repeated contamination surcharges."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/waste-diversion-rate",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/methane-landfill-emissions",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/recycling-revenue"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Compost Diversion Savings Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/compost-diversion-savings)"
}