Dive Brief:

• Curbside organics collection became standard for Alameda County, CA, residents in 2008; since the spring of 2014, the volume of food scraps has plummeted.
• In 2008, 60% of waste collected in Alameda County was food waste. Current figures indicate the percentage is now closer to 45%.
• The data was compiled by the organization StopWaste, which randomly sample 3,000 residential and commercial garbage cans in 15 cities each year. 

Dive Insight:

Although it’s unknown exactly why the recycling food waste numbers have dropped, there are some theories: the mess involved with collecting organics, lost sight of the environmental impact, rising incomes creating families who don’t mind tossing leftovers, or residents who are new to the area and aren’t aware of the program. There’s also the idea of “food waste fatigue,” meaning that community members are simply getting tired of recycling food.