Why Yard Waste?

If you’re going to rethink waste, yard debris is one of the most important places to start.

In the United States, yard waste makes up just over 12% of the municipal solid waste stream, making it the fourth-largest component of all our trash, according to the EPA.  That’s more than 28 million tons each year. Yet only about half is diverted into beneficial uses like compost or mulch. The rest is landfilled, incinerated, or just allowed to sit and rot.

That creates a major emissions problem.

When yard waste decomposes in landfills, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas 28X more potent than carbon dioxide over 100 years. 

Florida amplifies the issue.

On a per capita basis, Florida generates roughly twice the national average of yard waste. Year-round vegetation growth, landscaping practices, and population density all contribute to higher volumes.

And then there’s storm debris.

Hurricanes and severe storms can generate massive spikes in organic waste almost overnight, overwhelming existing systems and creating urgent disposal challenges for municipalities.

So when you combine:

• High volumes
• Significant methane emissions
• High management costs
• Extreme variability from storm events

Yard waste becomes more than just a routine service—it becomes a major opportunity for innovation.