Food scraps, spoiled food and unharvested and unused food products all contribute to unnecessary waste in America's landfills. Food waste contributes substantially to the 20 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions generated by landfills. According to the End Hunger website, the United States spends $1 billion annually on food waste disposal.
Significance
In 2006, food waste accounted for approximately 18 percent of material entering landfills, according to the Environmental Literacy Council. The United States Department of Agriculture reports that Americans waste 27 percent of "edible food available for consumption" each year. The end result, adds the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is a loss of 96 billion lbs. of edible food annually. Buried food and other organic landfill waste produce methane, a greenhouse gas "21 times more potent than carbon dioxide," according to the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA.
Prevention
Preventing food waste is key to organic waste reduction. Buy perishable items, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, only in amounts that meet your family's needs, advises Rethink Recycling, an outreach campaign established by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board of the Twin Cities metro area. Rethink Recycling also recommends that you store food according to directions, store leftovers in reusable containers and freeze food that you don't plan to use right away.
Alternatives
When you have more edible food than you need or can use, donate it to a local food bank or food rescue program. FeedingAmerica.org provides an interactive food bank finder on its website to help you locate programs in your area that accept food donations. You can also check with local churches, soup kitchens and shelters to ask about their policies for accepting food donations.
Types
Food waste can also be recycled through composting. You can invest in a composting bin of your own, mixing food waste with leaves and yard debris to create a nutrient rich soil useful for landscaping or gardening. According to Rethink Recycling, food waste that can be composted includes vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags and egg and nut shells. Fats, bones, meats and dairy products are not suitable for backyard composting, advises Rethink Recycling, and should be thrown away.
Considerations
Independent and government-sponsored recycling centers often accept organic waste. Visit the National Recycling Coalition website to locate a local recycling center that handles food waste. Contact the center to determine delivery or pick-up policies. Some recycling centers also accept cooking oil and grease, but meat and grease scraps might not be accepted. Food waste, due to its high water content, should be stored in waterproof containers prior to recycling.
Member Comments