When ‘compostable’ still means trash

We’ve all seen it—cups, cutlery, and takeout containers proudly stamped with the word “compostable.” It sounds like a guilt-free green choice, but here’s the inconvenient truth: most so-called compostable products are never actually composted.

A recent CBC Marketplace investigation tested a variety of compostable products and found that many failed to break down as promised. Instead, they ended up in landfills where, without oxygen or the right microbial conditions, they simply sit there. That’s because composting isn’t just about what something is made of—it’s about where it ends up.

True composting is an aerobic (oxygen-rich) process. When food scraps and compostable materials are exposed to air, heat, and microorganisms, they transform into nutrient-rich soil. But in a landfill, waste is buried under layers of trash where oxygen is limited. That anaerobic environment causes materials, even compostable ones, to decompose slowly if at all—releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Many “compostable” materials, such as PLA (polylactic acid), require the high heat of an industrial composting facility to actually decompose. Without that infrastructure, “compostable” becomes little more than greenwashing.

The good news? Residents and businesses along the Wasatch Back have access to a solution. Through the Zero Food Waste Curbside Collection program, a partnership between Momentum Recycling and the Park City Community Foundation, food waste and accepted compostable materials are collected right at the curb and taken to Wasatch Resource Recovery’s anaerobic digester in North Salt Lake.

There, microorganisms break down organic matter in an oxygen-free environment, converting it into renewable natural gas and nutrient-rich fertilizer. If those same items went into your regular trash, they’d only contribute to methane emissions in the landfill.

Food waste makes up an estimated 40–60% of landfill space at Summit County’s Three-Mile Landfill. By diverting it, we reduce methane, create fertilizer, and extend the life of the landfill. As of January, Park City Community Foundation estimated local participation had already eliminated 18.1 tons of methane.

So next time you grab a coffee cup labeled “compostable,” ask yourself: Will it actually be composted? If the answer is no, it’s still trash. However, if you’re part of the local composting program, you’re turning waste into something that truly gives back to the earth. Park City’s curbside composting program is a simple, impactful way to close the loop—and it’s free for new customers until the end of the year! If you prefer, you can also now drop off food waste at Recycle Utah whenever they’re open.

Learn more or sign up at parkcitycf.org/zerofoodwaste/curbsidecollection.

Written by Kimberly Flores, co-founder of fulFILLed Lifestyle Co. for the Park Record on Nov. 19, 2025