Food waste is 30-40% of the waste stream. In 2013, 37 million tons of food was discarded by Americans. Roughly 95% of this wasted food was sent to landfills or incinerators.
Decomposing food waste in landfills is a significant source of methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Preventing food waste reduces methane emissions while conserving energy and resources.
The Environmental Protection Agency provides the following tools to help you get smart and prevent food waste:
- Smart Shopping: Shop with Meals in Mind
- Smart Storage: Fruits and Vegetables Storage Tips
- Smart Prep: Prep Now, Eat Later
- Smart Saving: “Eat First” Sign
When you’ve made strides to prevent food waste, you can compost inevitable food waste.
The move information is from the City of Newton Sustainable Management website. Link to the website for valuable information on how to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle in Newton.
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