Webinar Recording: Compostable Takeout Containers in Residential Curbside Programs
Food waste comprises over 24% of US municipal solid waste and is responsible for 58% of landfill methane emissions, a greenhouse gas with a higher warming potential than carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change. One contributor to the amount of food ending up in landfills is single-use packaging and take-out containers that often contain leftover food. Some of these containers are made of materials that should go in the recycling bin, where food is not allowed, and so end up in the trash. Others are made of materials that cannot be recycled and also end up in the trash. But what about compostable packaging and containers?
The use of compostable products can beneficially contribute to the effective collection of food waste for composting, particularly in event and take-out settings. Inclusion in composting programs can make it easier on residents to divert food scraps by being able to put the compostable container and food scraps in the same collection bin versus requiring residents to separate food scraps from its packaging/container.
In January 2025, FPI hosted a webinar sharing key findings from eight residential curbside food scrap and compostable packaging collection programs. Additionally, representatives from a residential program and a composter accepting certified compostable packaging shared their real-world experiences.
Panelists Included:
Ashley Elzinga, FPI (moderator)
Coryanne Mansell, RRS
Kate Kurtz, City of Seattle/Seattle Public Utilities
Jake Duame, Specialized Environmental Technologies
Click the video below to begin watching, or watch the recording on the FPI YouTube Channel.