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On Site Compost Savings Calculator
On-site composting diverts organic waste from trash, reducing hauling fees.
Payback years
999
Annual savings
$1,950
Annual benefit
-$1,350
How the math works
Savings = tons × tipping. Benefit = savings + compost value − operational.
30 × $65 = $1,950 + $1,200 − $4,500 = ($1,350) benefit — net negative. System too big.
How to Use
- Enter food waste tons / year.
- Enter trash tipping fee / ton.
- Enter compost system cost.
- Enter operational cost / yr.
- Enter compost product value.
- Read payback.
Frequently Asked Questions
On-site composting?
Food waste + organic waste composted on property in aerobic digester or tumbler. Products: nutrient-rich compost for landscaping. Large-scale units (BioHiTech Eco-Safe, VFD, ORCA): $30-100k install, handle 100-1000 lb/day. Small-scale tumblers: $200-1,500 residential-style for 10-50 unit properties. Saves: trash tipping fees, hauler frequency.
Volume savings?
Food waste: 25-40% of total multifamily trash by weight. Composting diverts 25-40% of trash haul. On 200-unit building generating 8 tons/month trash: 2-3 tons/month composted = $400-1,200/month tipping fee saved + reduced hauler pickups. Annual savings: $5-15k on larger buildings.
Operational considerations?
Tenant participation: 40-70% participation typical. Requires separate bins + education. Odor management: sealed systems minimize. Pest/rodent: minimal if properly operated. Compost product usage: onsite landscaping, community garden. Alternative: sale to commercial composters (modest revenue). Municipal organics mandate growing (CA SB 1383, NYC organics law, Boston, Portland) — provides incentive.
Cost vs DIY?
Commercial composting service (hauler pickup of organics separately): $30-150/month. Same hauler convenience, less capex. On-site system: higher capex, lower ongoing. Portfolio-level: on-site wins at 5+ properties with committed tenant participation. Single property: commercial service typically easier/cheaper. Program manager: 5-10 hrs/month for education, monitoring, community coordination.
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