Home Composting vs. Industrial Composting

If you’ve ever wondered what “certified home compostable” or “certified industrially compostable” actually mean, you’re in the right place. Home composting and industrial composting both break down organic waste, but they do so in very different ways. 

What Is Composting?

In short, composting is a controlled process that speeds up the natural breakdown of organic materials like food scraps, leaves, and paper. Microorganisms, i.e. bacteria and fungi, feed on this waste and convert it into a nutrient-rich soil amendment known as compost. Composting improves soil health, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, and keeps organic waste out of landfills.

What Are the Goals of Composting?

Composting has two main goals:

• Reduce waste sent to landfills: Food waste and organic waste make up a huge part of what people throw out each day. When you compost these items instead, you keep them out of landfills! 

• Create nutrient-rich compost that supports healthier soil: Compost works like a natural fertilizer, getting soil the nutrients it needs. Strong soil helps plants grow easier, both in home gardens and on farms, and contributes to a more balanced ecosystem.

What Is Home Composting?

Home composting is the process of turning everyday food scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich compost from the comfort of your own home. You can create a home compost pile in a bin, a tumbler, or even an open outdoor heap. Because it’s a small, low-maintenance setup, home composting is great for recycling kitchen and garden waste without needing special equipment.

The process is slower than what happens in commercial facilities and usually takes several months to a year. But unlike industrial systems, home composting doesn’t require constant monitoring, just occasional turning and the right mix of materials to help everything break down naturally.

How Does Home Composting Work?

There are several popular methods, and each one has its own benefits depending on your space and how much effort you want to put in:

• On-site composting: This is a simple, static pile in your yard or garden. It’s low effort, easy to maintain, and works well if you have outdoor space.

• Compost bins: These store-bought or homemade bins keep everything contained, help retain heat, and keep your pile neater if that’s what you prefer.

Whichever method you choose, the goal is the same: provide the right balance of materials, air, and moisture so the pile stays active. With basic care—like turning the pile occasionally and keeping the mix balance—you can break compost down faster and prevent odors or pests.

What Is Industrial Composting?

Industrial composting, also called commercial composting, is a large-scale process designed to handle significant amounts of organic waste from homes, businesses, and entire communities. It takes place at specialized composting facilities where conditions are carefully controlled to help materials break down safely and efficiently.

These facilities use advanced systems to manage airflow, moisture, and temperature—and because they can maintain consistently high heat, industrial composting can process a much wider range of materials than a typical home compost pile.

How Do Industrial Composting Facilities Work?

Industrial composting systems use specialized equipment and tightly controlled environments to break down large volumes of organic waste. The most common methods include:

• Windrow composting: Long outdoor piles turned regularly to keep air flowing through the material.

• Aerated static piles: Compost piles built over a network of pipes that push air up through the waste.

• In-vessel composting: Fully enclosed systems like drums, silos, or containers where temperature, airflow, and moisture are tightly controlled.

Difference Between Industrial Composting and Home Composting?

The core differences between composting methods lie in their scale, temperature, and the materials they can process. Home composting is a small-scale, low-temperature process perfect for garden and some kitchen waste. Industrial composting is a large-scale, high-temperature operation that can handle a much wider array of organic waste.

An industrial facility can produce finished compost in a matter of months, while a home pile might take a year or more. The high heat of industrial composting also guarantees the destruction of pathogens, something a home pile cannot ensure.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

Which Method Is Better for the Environment?

From an environmental standpoint, both home and industrial composting can be helpful, but in different ways. Home composting keeps waste on-site and uses very little energy, making it a low-impact way to handle everyday food scraps and yard trimmings. Industrial composting, on the other hand, can process much larger volumes of organic material and reduces the amount of waste that would otherwise go to landfills.

Both methods contribute to sustainability, but the better option often depends on the type of waste you have.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I compost biodegradable packaging at home or should it go to an industrial facility?

Most packaging you see that says "biodegradable" or "compostable" needs to go to an industrial plant. If the product does not have a "Home Compostable" stamp, it will not break down properly in your backyard bin. If you do not see one, the packaging should go into commercial composting or in the trash.

Does industrial composting handle compostable plastics better than home composting?

Yes. Industrial composting is made for handling compostable plastics. The high temperatures in commercial composting facilities help break down these plastics fully and properly. At home, composting simply doesn’t get hot enough to do so.