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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Ways to Reduce Food Waste
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers several ways individuals can reduce the amount of food they waste. Some ways to reduce wasted food are listed below.
- Cook or eat what you already have at home before buying more.
- Plan your menu before you go shopping and only buy what is on the list.
- Do not buy in bulk unless you are able and plan to use it all.
- Donate unused, untouched food to food banks.
- Compost food scraps rather than throwing them away.
Donating Unused, Untouched Food
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. Food scraps and yard waste are perfect composting materials. Composting is a simple and time efficient method to manage yard waste, and turn it into fertilizer. 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. St. Louis County has information on how to compost and facilities that accept compost such as St. Louis Composting.
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.
Food Waste Harms the Environment
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, rotting food in landfills releases methane. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with 21 times the global warming potential than that of carbon dioxide. Landfills account for more than 20 percent of all methane emissions. Preventing food waste from entering landfills is not only good for your wallet, but good for the environment, as well.
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