In the U.S., more than one third of food goes to waste. As such, more food ends up in landfills than any other material.
In the U.S., more than one third of food goes to waste. As such, more food ends up in landfills than any other material. There, organic products decompose and produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to warming the planet. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, discarded food is responsible for 58 percent of methane emissions from landfills. But this organic waste can instead be put to good use if it is composted.
Composting is a natural process that recycles organic waste like discarded food, paper or yard litter into a rich material called compost. With air and moisture, microorganisms—bacteria and fungi—transform this waste into a valuable material that can improve soil quality. Compost adds nutrients and good microbes to soil, helps retain moisture, reduces erosion, filters stormwater and eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
Read More: Columbia Climate School
Photo Credit: Niwrat via Wikimedia Commons
