Submitted by IFSCC Sustaining Members Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) Education Coordinator, Theresa Greinig, and Seven Generations Ahead Sustainability Program Associate, Caroline French
In the growing push toward sustainability and waste reduction, many households are
exploring new ways to manage food waste. One increasingly popular gadget is the food
scrap dehydrator – marketed as a quick and clean alternative to traditional composting.
While these devices offer a convenient method for reducing the volume of food waste,
it’s important to clarify a common misconception: food scrap dehydrators do not actually
compost.
What Food Scrap Dehydrators Really Do Food scrap dehydrators (also called “electric composters” or “kitchen composters”) use heat, agitation, and airflow to rapidly dry and grind food scraps into a fine, soil-like material. This process reduces moisture content and significantly shrinks the volume of the original food waste within a very short period of time – often measured in hours. What’s left behind is often called “compost,” but this is misleading. The end product is typically a sterilized, dehydrated food powder, not the biologically active, nutrient-rich humus that results from true composting.
Composting Is a Biological Process
Composting is a natural, biological process that involves the breakdown of organic
material by microorganisms, fungi, and invertebrates under specific moisture, oxygen,
and temperature conditions. Over time, typically months, these organisms transform
food scraps, yard trimmings, and other organics into compost: a dark, crumbly
substance full of beneficial microbes, nutrients, and organic matter that improves soil
health.
Dehydrators, on the other hand, use heat to kill bacteria and microbes, essentially
sterilizing the material. There is no decomposition or microbial activity involved,
meaning the end product is not biologically alive and does not provide the same
benefits to soil as finished compost does.
Why This Matters
Using dehydrated food waste as compost can be misleading and, in some cases,
Counterproductive.
Soil health: True compost adds beneficial microbes and helps build soil structure.
Dehydrated scraps lack these living organisms, limiting their contribution to soil health.
Nutrient availability: Compost provides nutrients in a stable form that plants can use.
Dehydrated food scraps may still need time to break down in the soil and could
temporarily tie up nitrogen during that process.
Miscommunication: Calling dehydrated scraps “compost” confuses consumers,
weakens compost education efforts, and distorts public understanding of sustainable
waste practices.
What Can You Do Instead?
If you own a dehydrator, you can still make use of it responsibly:
- Use the output as a soil amendment, but understand that it’s more like a pre-compost material. Bury it in your garden or compost pile to allow further decomposition.
- Start a backyard compost bin or worm bin to produce true compost. These methods may take longer, but they deliver lasting benefits to your soil and environment.
- Support community composting efforts or curbside compost programs if available in your area.
A Better Path to Real Compost
Food scrap dehydrators can be a helpful first step in managing kitchen waste, especially
in urban settings or small spaces. But it’s important to recognize their limitations. They are not a substitute for composting. If your goal is to enrich soil, reduce landfill waste, and support the natural cycle of decomposition, true composting methods, whether backyard bins, worm composting, or community programs are the way to go. By understanding the difference, we can make informed choices that truly benefit our gardens, our communities, and the environment.
