It’s no secret that food waste is a big problem. Studies show that Americans waste more than 60 million tons of food every single year, a figure that’s especially troubling when you consider the breadth of world hunger and food scarcity. But food waste isn’t just a human tragedy; it’s an environmental calamity, as well.
To get a sense of just how much our organic waste damages the environment, consider a few basic facts.
1) Food waste = water waste.
Water isn’t just essential to life. It’s essential for agriculture, too. Indeed, water is vital for producing crops, for raising animals, and for ensuring we have plenty of fresh fish, meat, and dairy.
When we throwaway food, we’re essentially wasting all of the water that was used to produce it. That’s especially catastrophic when it comes to fruits and vegetables, many of which are predominantly made of water.
Some studies show that about 25 percent of all the water used in agriculture winds up being wasted. That’s a sobering statistic about one of our most precious resources.
2) Food waste leads to methane release.
Food waste invariably makes its way into landfills. Once there, it begins to rot and decompose, and eventually to release methane gas.
As you’re doubtless aware, methane is a greenhouse gas, which means it’s directly connected to climate change and rising temperatures.
Simply put: Less organic waste means less methane gas, and that’s a very good thing for the health of our planet.
3) Organic waste contributes to oil production.
We already mentioned that water is an important part of the food production process. Fossil fuels, too, are employed in the development, storage, and transportation of food products. Indeed, the food production industry uses copious amounts of oil and diesel. Wasted food means all that fossil fuel production is for naught.
But this isn’t just a matter of natural resources being squandered. Also note that fossil fuels generate still further methane and other greenhouse gases, making this another example of food waste contributing directly to climate change.
4) Organic waste also means wasted land.
Here’s another angle: Creating food requires the use of lots of land. Land is needed to raise animals that provide us with meat and dairy, and land is needed to grow crops.
You can probably tell where this is headed: Wasting food means wasting land. Furthermore, when land is wasted in this way, it gradually loses its ability to yield. This is called degradation, and it’s still another reason why organic waste is a major ecological problem.
These are just a few data points that indicate what a problem food waste really is. Thankfully, all of us can play a part in minimizing organic waste. A good starting point is simply ensuring that you’re working with the right waste and recycling management partner. That’s where WasteXperts comes in. Reach out to us to find out more about environmentally-sound waste management!
