5 tips to send less food to landfills
While we usually focus on keeping man-made materials like plastic out of landfills, we’re diving into the topic of food waste because a new study highlighted a big reason to send less organic materials to landfills.
The study, published in the journal Science in March 2024 and covered in lots of news stories (such as this one from CNN), revealed that landfills are burping out methane at a rate much higher than expected. This planet-warming gas is produced in landfills by bacteria who feed on organic matter like paper, wood, and food.
Scientists say that rapid reduction of methane production will slow climate change—they even call it one of the most effective ways to fight global warming— but landfills haven’t been a focus in the conversation.
Now we know: sending less organic matter to landfills will help fight climate change, so let’s look at what we can each do to keep more food out of landfills.
Food takes up more volume in landfills than other types of organic waste. It accounts for 24% of all landfilled waste—and about half of all food waste comes at the consumer level.
We put together tips to send less food to landfills with our friends at Seven Sundays, who make 100% real cereals coated in nostalgia and packed with nutrient-rich upcycled ingredients, like upcycled oat protein and upcycled sunflower protein. Since 2020, they’ve committed to partnering with farmers and food processors to repurpose underutilized ingredients to their fullest nutritional potential, diverting 150+ tons of ingredients from the waste stream.
Before we get to the tips, a reminder: If curbside food waste pickup is available where you live and you’re not already in the habit, start using your bin for accepted scraps and leftovers—most commonly fruits and vegetables; meat, fish, and dairy; pizza boxes; and food-soiled paper.
Composting at home is also a great option that lets you enjoy the full circle of using soil you created yourself.
5 tips to keep food out of landfills
Choose “ugly” fruits and vegetables. Produce accounts for a little more than 30% of food that’s wasted at grocery stores. Be the shopper who takes home less-visually appealing produce! It’s a way to help fruits and vegetables escape the fate of being trashed before they’re even bought.
Learn about expiration dates. The FDA reports that confusion about food dating leads to an estimated 20% of consumer food waste. Some dates you see on food packaging aren’t expiration dates, but “best bought by” or “produced on” dates. Even if you see a true expiration date that has passed, look for signs of spoilage before tossing the food.
Support food brands that use upcycled ingredients, like Seven Sundays. Upcycled ingredients use the byproducts from producing other food, which would otherwise be wasted. For example, Seven Sundays uses the “leftover” oats from making oat milk in their cereal.
Know where to donate food locally. While it’s great to be planful about your meals and snacks before shopping for groceries, that much planning isn’t sustainable for every household. Here’s a backup: Know where you can take surplus food to be used up. Many food banks take fresh food and your local Buy Nothing group is a convenient place to find a neighbor who can use your extras.
Try a food markdown alert app. Did you know these existed? Apps like Too Good To Go and Flashfood make it super-convenient for businesses to list local leftover food at a discount, connecting consumers and businesses that are trying to decrease food waste. Check if they’re available where you live.
Of course, food waste is a complex issue that goes far beyond each of our households. These tips won’t provide the whole solution, but they show that individuals can take control in lots of different ways. It’s all about finding the ones that fit into your lifestyle and giving them a try.
Want to recycle plastic food packaging?
Lots of food, including Seven Sundays cereal, comes packaged in crinkly plastic that isn’t recyclable curbside, but Ridwell can take it! We partner with HydroBlox to turn it into stormwater systems and other drainage products.
