Home composting has become one of the most effective strategies for managing organic waste in Spain. More and more households are choosing to transform their kitchen and garden scraps into natural fertilizer, thus reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Programs promoted by public consortia and private entities are succeeding in engaging thousands of families across the country.
According to data from Sogama, organic matter represents approximately 40% of household waste. By composting at home, this percentage ceases to be a problem and becomes a resource. In Ontinyent, the V5 Waste Consortium has added 50 new families, reaching a total of 250 participating households. In the Safor region, the same consortium has 1.300 families who, in 2025, prevented the generation of 572 tons of organic waste.
The rise of home composting in Spain
Sogama's program, which operates in Galicia, has distributed more than 24.200 composters free of charge to 235 municipalities, 230 schools, and 35 community organizations. These composters, with a capacity of 400 liters, are made from recycled materials and allow for optimal control of the fermentation process. The initiative targets single-family homes with land, closing the natural cycle by using the resulting compost in gardens and allotments.
In the Valencian Community, the V5 Waste Consortium (COR) has successfully engaged 1.300 families across five districts: Vall d'Albaida, La Costera, La Canal de Navarrés, La Safor, and Valle de Ayora. In 2025 alone, 213 new households joined the program. In Ontinyent, the program currently serves 250 families, with the most recent 50 joining after completing training workshops. Each family receives a composter and personalized follow-up from technicians who visit their homes two months after the program begins.
In Andalusia, the Malaga municipality of Villanueva de Tapia has launched a system that combines home and community composting. Residents can choose to receive composting materials at home or deposit their biowaste at a shared collection point. The project, funded by the Malaga Provincial Council and the Unicaja Foundation through the Microclimates program, features technical design by the company Radix Circular. The initiative complies with Law 7/2022 on waste , which requires municipalities to collect biowaste separately.
Environmental and economic benefits
The environmental impact of home composting is remarkable. In Ontinyent, the 50 new families will prevent 20.500 kilograms of biowaste each year , representing a 40% reduction in the residual waste fraction from these households. Furthermore, 18.400 kilograms of CO₂ emissions will be avoided, an amount comparable to that generated by four cars in a year. The compost produced, approximately 5.100 kilograms, improves soil fertility and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
In the Safor region, 1.300 families prevented the generation of 572 tons of organic waste in 2025, equivalent to 60 garbage trucks. The savings in transport and treatment of this waste also translates into economic benefits for the municipalities, which see a reduction in their wastewater treatment plant bills. Furthermore, the continued use of compost increases the soil's capacity to retain moisture, with an improvement equivalent to 25.000 liters of water in the case of Ontinyent.
The president of COR V5, Elio Cabanes, highlighted that "each new family that joins the program represents a direct benefit for the entire territory , because it reduces the amount of waste that must be transported and treated, decreases greenhouse gas emissions and helps to build a more efficient and sustainable circular economy model."
Training and technical support
One of the cornerstones of these programs is training. In Ontinyent, new participants come from composting workshops organized by COR. After the training, they receive the materials and personalized follow-up. Technician Mikel Vela explains: “We visit each home to explain how the process works, adapt it to the needs of each household, and answer any questions. Two months later, we make the first visit to check that everything is progressing correctly.”
In Galicia, Sogama also provides in-person training and distributes manuals with detailed instructions on what materials to add and how to control temperature, oxygen, and humidity. Ongoing support is key to success , as home composting is simple once you know the basics. As Toni López, a resident of Real de Gandia, points out: “All you need is a composter and the desire to do it. Instead of throwing food scraps in the trash, we put them in the composter, and the microorganisms do the rest.”
In Villanueva de Tapia, the Radix Circular technical design includes both domestic and community options, adapting to the needs of each resident. Citizen involvement is essential for these initiatives to succeed, and data shows that when training and tools are provided, the response is positive.
A regulatory push
Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy establishes the obligation to collect and treat biowaste separately. Municipalities like Villanueva de Tapia are anticipating this requirement and turning a legal obligation into a useful tool for their residents. Home and community composting allows them to comply with the regulations while generating environmental and social benefits.
The president of COR V5, Elio Cabanes, emphasizes that "the public's response confirms a growing environmental awareness. When we offer training, support, and tools to facilitate composting, residents respond and get involved." The trend is clear : more and more households and organizations are adopting these practices, contributing to a more sustainable waste management model.
With thousands of families already participating across Spain, home composting is becoming established as a real and proven solution for reducing the environmental impact of organic waste. Data from programs such as those run by Sogama, COR V5, and the Villanueva de Tapia project demonstrate that, with training and support, households can transform their waste into a valuable resource, reduce emissions, and improve soil fertility. The combination of public awareness, regulatory impetus, and technical support is paving the way for a more efficient circular economy.