Biogas can be used on-site to remediate energy costs or sold to the grid. Through diverting food waste from landfills to anaerobic digestion, two beneficial products are produced. Hauling and landfilling food waste represents a direct cost to businesses and many external costs to society with no economic benefits. In addition to methane, food waste in landfills can cause nutrient problems in leachate and odor and vermin problems, along with taking up unnecessary space in the landfill. However, most of this methane is not captured for energy, and about half of the methane generated in the landfill escapes to the atmosphere and is 25 times stronger a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (Source: US EPA).Ī major source of this organic material in landfills is food waste, and by diverting food waste, methane emissions can be significantly reduced. The same process that occurs in an anaerobic digester occurs in a landfill and methane is produced from organic material. Once food waste is in a landfill, it does not disappear. By not wasting this food and reusing this food for beneficial end products, we are able to recover some of these inputs that would otherwise be sent to landfills. Water, fertilizer, land, and labor inputs for agriculture (especially industrialized agriculture) can be extremely taxing on the environment.Īll of these inputs are embodied in the food we eat and throw away. Growing food to sustain our society requires a huge input from the environment. There are many important reasons why food should not be wasted. If you have any questions about this topic please email Ryan Graunke at divert food waste?
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