Keeping Food Out of the Landfill

Methane, a flammable greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide for having the potential of causing or continuing global warming, is created by rotting food disposed in a landfill as it decomposes. 

Landfills account for more than 20 percent of all methane emissions in the United States. Organic materials, such as food scraps, that are thrown into the landfill eventually decompose and release methane.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, discarded food worth nearly $165 billion annually is rotting in municipal landfills. In fact, Americans throw away more food per year than paper, plastic, metal, wood, or glass.

Reducing the amount of food you buy to begin with is always best, but you can help keep food and organic waste out of landfills by following some simple guidelines.

• Shop wisely and only buy what you need
• Cook only what is needed at for a meal 
• Eat leftovers
• Buy perfectly good fruits and vegetables even if they are an odd shape
• Donate perfectly good but unused food
• Compost all organic material that you can

For more information on waste and recycling visit www.wasteawaygroup.com.