There are many reasons why we should avoid throwing food away. Waste produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is 28 to 34 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. It contributes to climate change, and landfills are the number three emitter of methane. Food waste makes up about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, we can make our lives a little easier by recycling our leftovers.

Climate change

Food waste contributes to climate change, but what causes it?

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, about 30% of the food grown is wasted worldwide. The figure is even higher in the United States, at 40%. Waste from food and food scraps has a variety of impacts, from social inequity to environmental degradation. Foley has identified some of the key culprits. Listed below are some solutions to reduce food waste. This article provides some insight into what causes food waste.

Food waste is the third largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and accounts for about 6.7 percent of global emissions. The project estimates that the world would eliminate 11 percent of its carbon emissions if all food waste is composted. This study highlights the need to reduce the waste of all food items to help the environment.

Water pollution

A typical water source is contaminated with bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These contaminants can cause disease. They can make you ill or even kill you. Water viruses can cause various illnesses, including cholera, giardia, and typhoid. Bio contaminants may come from sewage treatment facilities or runoff from farms and urban areas. Legionnaires’ disease is also an example of water pollution in the environment.

You probably already know that water pollution is bad for plants and animals. However, you may not realize that water pollution can be equally bad for people. Humans indeed use water for various purposes, including cleaning and swimming. Pollution can also destroy natural ecosystems, harm plants, and animals, and contaminate rivers and lakes. Here are some examples of common water pollutants.

Costs to consumers

The costs of waste to consumers are numerous. Food in stores, restaurants, processing centers, warehouses, and farms all contributes to the problem. Not all of these costs are passed on to consumers. According to ReFED, a research organization, 408 billion dollars is lost each year through waste. The study found that food waste costs consumers over one-quarter of their daily budget. Meat and seafood, cereals, dairy, and sweets accounted for the highest proportion of budgets wasted.

The costs of food wastage to consumers include not only financial costs but also environmental impacts. A project called Food Wastage Footprint was created to quantify the environmental impact of food wastage. You can use this tool to measure the impact of food waste on the atmosphere, land, and biodiversity and uses a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model to identify hotspots.

Impact on wildlife

Globally, there are 1.6 billion tons of waste generated annually. These items are discarded into landfills and are considered an opportunistic source of food for opportunistic predators. In the western Mediterranean, food waste is a major threat to the populations of endangered species, such as the Auduoin’s gull and Steller sea lion. This problem is compounded by yellow-legged gulls feeding on garbage from nearby communities.

Unused food has been responsible for the decline of several animal species, including the yellow-billed cuckoo and the desert turtle. Cleanup of the food waste stream is crucial to protecting these animals and their habitat. Moreover, scientists have found that uneaten food supplies threaten many seabird species, including threatened species like monarch caterpillars.

Summary: Why Is Food Waste Bad?

These are just some of the reasons why food waste is harmful. Thankfully we can reduce the amount of food waste with a bit of additional planning. You can always compost in your own apartment and use the worm castings in your outdoor garden or houseplants.