Understanding electric composting machines as a potential household food waste management strategy

Household food waste is a significant problem in the US, with billions of dollars of food waste being generated by households each year. In addition to financial loss, food that is disposed of in landfills and through incineration also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Composting has long been one method of dealing with household food waste, but traditional composting methods may not be feasible for many households, including those living in the city, in apartments and those with physical limitations. Newly created electric household composters are being advertised as a potential solution to these barriers, but little research has been done into the effectiveness of these machines. This study tested two different brands of electric household composters to determine their usability and effectiveness at reducing food waste and resulting greenhouse gas emissions. Our study found that while electric household composters did reduce the mass of food waste there were still limitations in their feasibility as a large-scale solution to the problem of food waste.