Food Waste Recovery
In a Nutshell
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, food waste accounts for about 22 percent of all waste going into municipal landfills. In the Missouri Statewide Waste Composition Study published in 2018, food waste was identified to be the most prevalent material accounting for 15 percent of the statewide municipal solid waste stream. Reducing food waste saves money, which is good for consumers, and reduces methane emissions, which is good for the environment. Much of the food waste can be composted, which is also good for the environment. Finally, donating surplus food to those in need helps our communities and keeps the unused items out of landfills.
Practical Solution
The “How To”
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Reducing Food Waste
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains a comprehensive website on Sustainable Food Management. The emphasis behind sustainable management of food is food waste reduction as illustrated by the Food Recovery Hierarchy. Click on the Hierarchy triangle to browse EPA recommendations for each level. Below the graphic are some St. Louis regional resources.
Source Reduction
Earthday365 conducts education on household reduction of food waste. You can follow their campaign on social media with #toogoodtowaste. You can also visit their website here.
Feed Hungry People
One of the easiest ways to prevent food waste is to donate any extra, untouched food items you have purchased but you will not use. Throughout the St. Louis region, there are many places that will accept food donations including Operation Food Search, the St. Louis Area Food Bank, and Feeding Illinois. Donating your extra food is an easy way to not only reduce food waste, but to also help others within the community.
Composting Food Waste
Compost is organic matter that when added to soil helps plants grow. Composting is the simple and time efficient method to turn yard waste and food scraps into compost. Organic matter in compost improves soil aeration, root penetration, water infiltration, and reduces crusting of the soil surface. Compost will occur naturally, and there are certain devices and methods that can be used to start and aid the composting process. Visit the OneSTL Composting tool to learn more.
Food Waste Recycling Ordinances and Legislation
In 2012, the Vermont legislature unanimously passed Act 148 which is a universal recycling and composting law. Along with cardboard, paper, and plastic recycling legislation, the Act aims to forbid food scraps from going into landfills by July, 2020.
Section 9-3.5 of the Revised Ordinances of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii requires certain hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals, food courts, and food manufacturers and processors to compost food waste.
Content updates to this page made possible by funding provided by the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Case Studies