Reduced Food Waste
Background: “In the United States, over one-third of all available food goes uneaten through loss or waste (USDA).” This wasted food is responsible for an estimated 8% of greenhouse gases emitted from deforesting land to convert it to agriculture, from the extra fertilizer, gasoline and water that it takes to grow, distribute, process and refrigerate it, and finally the methane emitted when it rots in a landfill (Drawdown).
Goals: Reduce food waste at the consumer level and recycle unavoidable food waste.
Household: Shop carefully, and use all of the food that you buy. Recycle food waste in yard waste bins if possible. Grow some fruit or vegetables if you can or shop at farmers markets. This helps to cut out emissions from industrial agriculture, food processing and distribution systems.
City: An initiative may be needed to ensure that all food waste is collected from houses, apartment buildings and businesses so that it can be composted.
County: Operate a composting facility which produces compost for gardening and agriculture.
Businesses/Schools: Educate about the importance of reducing food waste and about recycling organic waste, and provide bins so that on-site food waste can be collected for composting.