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Compost vs Landfill Impact Estimator
Estimate the methane and CO2-equivalent emissions difference between sending food/yard waste to a landfill versus composting it, based on published average emission factors.
🔒 This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to a server.
Uses simplified average emission factors (roughly 0.5 kg CO2e/kg landfilled vs. 0.1 kg CO2e/kg composted) — actual figures vary by facility, waste type, and local conditions.
Landfill emissions / year
0 kg CO2e
Compost emissions / year
0 kg CO2e
Estimated annual savings
0 kg CO2e
How the estimate works
- Enter how much food or yard waste you typically produce per week.
- The tool scales that to an annual total and applies average emission factors for landfilling versus composting.
- The difference is shown as an estimated annual CO2-equivalent savings from choosing compost over landfill.
FAQ
Why does landfilled waste produce more emissions than composted waste?
Landfills bury organic waste under other trash, creating an oxygen-poor (anaerobic) environment where it decomposes into methane — a greenhouse gas roughly 25-80× more potent than CO2 over relevant timeframes. Composting happens with oxygen present (aerobic), which mostly releases CO2 instead of methane.
Are the emission factors used here exact?
No — they're simplified averages meant to illustrate the general order of magnitude. Actual emissions depend on your local landfill's methane capture systems, the specific composting method used, and the waste composition, so treat the output as a rough estimate, not a precise carbon audit.
What counts as compostable waste for this estimate?
Typical food scraps and yard waste (fruit/vegetable trimmings, coffee grounds, leaves, grass clippings) — the kind of organic material most curbside or backyard composting programs accept, not meat, dairy, or non-organic trash.
Rough estimate vs. a formal life-cycle assessment
| Feature | This estimator | Formal life-cycle assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Instant personal ballpark | ✓ | ✗ |
| Facility-specific, audited figures | ✗ | ✓ |
A quick way to see whether starting a compost habit is worth the effort — not a certified carbon accounting figure.