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LC Compost Solutions, LLC

​​Food Waste – What Every Person can do to Reduce Emissions


When many people think of methane gas, they think of it as a by product of oil and gas production, or cattle operations. But a large portion of methane comes from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills. Food, dead animals, butcher and plant waste that is buried in a landfill decays anaerobically (without oxygen) and this releases methane gas as it decays. Methane gas is a powerfully potent greenhouse gas, 28 times more capable of trapping heat around the planet than CO2. So reducing methane pays off big dividends in the fight to reduce global warming. Reducing methane gas emissions is something we can all do and it doesn’t take much effort at all, and will save us money too. There are two ways we, as individuals, can do this: by reducing food waste and composting our organic scraps in the home compost pile.
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photo by Emmett for pexels.com

Reducing food waste

 It is estimated that 40% of food waste in America occurs in supermarkets and by consumers. In addition to generating greenhouse gases when the food rots in a landfill, food waste is also a tremendous expense of energy. The energy and resources required to grow, prepare, package, ship, purchase and refrigerate food is all wasted when the food itself goes uneaten. So one way consumers can make a measurable difference in greenhouse gas emissions is to reduce food waste and when possible, compost the scraps. Cutting down on food waste “represents one of the greatest possibilities for individuals, companies and communities to contribute to reversing global warming and at the same time feed more people, increase economic benefits and preserve threatened ecosystems.” (Washington Post article by Chad Frischmann, 7/31/18).  Click on the "Learn More" button to open up a document with more tips on reducing your food waste.
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LC Compost Solutions, LLC

Backyard Composting

Another way to reduce food waste entering the landfill is to compost it. Composting is an aerobic process – it occurs in the presence of oxygen – thus, no methane gas is produced.

The backyard compost pile is beneficial for your garden – feeding your plants with nutrients, retaining moisture, providing plants cover for winter, and even reducing weeds. A properly managed pile will reach temperatures of 140 degrees F or more.  Click on the "Learn More" button to open up a document with more tips and instructions for composting at home.