Lessons for Compost Policy: What Can Recycling Policy Tell Us?

This report reviews economics literature on recycling to identify lessons for designing municipal compost programs that meet organics-diversion goals efficiently. It finds that household waste fees generally produce limited changes in disposal or recycling behavior, while landfill taxes may create stronger incentives for waste-management entities. The report also emphasizes reducing contamination through product and material standards rather than relying only on curbside interventions. To increase agricultural demand for compost, it finds that subsidizing compost purchases is unlikely to have much effect; sharing or subsidizing specialized spreading equipment may better reduce the risks farmers face when trying compost. Because municipal compost programs were still relatively new, the report recommends empirical research comparing program designs and outcomes before applying recycling-policy findings too broadly.