Dive Brief:

• Municipalities across New Jersey are increasingly trying out curbside food waste programs for its residents.

• Composting is growing in popularity as a means to reduce waste disposal costs for institutions such as schools and businesses.

• Pilot programs are a way to compare costs to determine if municipal composting is less expensive than tradition waste disposal.

Dive Insight:

As more and more cities consider adding organic waste collection to their communities, Trenton Biogas, based in New Jersey, plans to open the first food waste plant in the state. This growing trend comes at a time when cities are moving towards adding this service to their curbside pick-ups.

Lambertville, New Jersey is planning to begin a pilot curbside composting program to assess household interest and savings. Princeton, New Jersey began a pilot program which lasted three months in June of 2011. Officials reported that 400 participants reduced the volume of waste headed for the landfill by 60 tons, with a savings of $7,500. The Mayor of Frenchtown is considering food waste composting.