Yesterday I had to go through all of my vegetables and throw out about half of them because they had gone bad. An entire batch of Persian Cucumbers into the trash!? What a waste. And what will happen to those cucumbers I so regretfully threw away?
This experience really got me thinking about how much food waste us Americans produce. After some research, the evidence is all but inspiring. "According to the USDA, just over a quarter of the country's food --
about 25.9 million tons -- gets thrown in the garbage can every year," (CNN.com). So 25% of our food ends up in the trash? Why haven't I thought about this before?
The reason food waste goes largely unnoticed for me, at least, is because once my trash is taken away, it is out of sight and out of mind. Unlike other forms of conspicuous over-consumption and waste production, such as Hummers and closets full of unworn clothes, food waste is easily overlooked. Once it's gone, we don't notice how much trash we are actually producing or question what happens to the trash once out of our backyard.
What I often fail to realize is that after the waste companies take our trash away in nicely painted trucks, it is far from disappearing. The trash still has to go somewhere, whether its the recycling plant (hopefully) or the landfill. I already am an avid recycler and re-user of anything possible to cut down on my waste production. This morning I took two water bottles out of my roommate's trash to place them in their proper home: the recycle bin, and I even re-use paper towels (I opt for dish towels first, of course). But my environmentally-friendly practices have failed to extend to my food waste, until today!
First, think about how much food you throw away. "According to the USDA, just over a quarter of the country's food --
about 25.9 million tons -- gets thrown in the garbage can every year," (CNN.com). Ouch!
Second, realize that throwing away food isn't just wasteful, but harmful to the environment. When food biodegrades in a landfill it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. "Methane, the gas food waste produces, traps 23 times as much heat in
the atmosphere as the same amount of CO2, the EPA says. And landfills
are the place you will find most of it -- they account for 34 percent
of all methane emissions in the U.S.," (CNN.com).
So what can be done about the problem? Drumroll please...
COMPOST! What used to conjure up images of smelly plots of land in my non-existent large backyard, composting is now available for anyone to take part in, acreage or not. Composting does numerous great things, and will up your green karma in more ways than one. First, it produces no methane. Second, its a great example of first-hand recycling: turning your compost-friendly food scraps and wasted food (fruits, veggies, tea bags, eggshells, etc) into humus soil. Third, it produces the most nutrient-rich soil imaginable - free! Compost is a wonder-soil, much like flaxseed is a wonder-food. California's composting site writes that "...recycled organic materials in landscapes enhances soil fertility and water-holding capacity, slows
evaporation losses, increases plant drought tolerance, conserves water, and
suppresses the spread of wild fires. Using compost and mulch products will
reduce fertilizer and water usage, which in turn reduces toxic runoff that
can lead to surface and groundwater pollution," (ciwmb.ca.gov).
To start composting, purchase an outdoor composting bin or a worm composting system. Gaiam.com sells both products online, but there are numerous options for your composting system. Shop around and pick out your favorite - eBay is a great source for cheap compost bins (a tip from an 11th Hour employee). The Can-O-Worms composting bin is my personal favorite, because I get pet worms and a compost system in one. If worms make you queasy, opt for an outdoor worm-less bin. A purchased bin should come with everything you need to get your compost mojo going for a reasonably low price, considering the important and fun green functions they serve. They are great gift ideas, as well. Just think, within 6 - 12 weeks, you and your plants (indoor or outdoor) can be experiencing compost bliss.
So watch your food waste, start composting, and tell me about your experiences. For questions regarding how to compost well, visit www.howtocompost.org.
Hope to hear stories soon,
Emily
11th Hour Action Intern
