How reducing food waste became a #1 climate solution
Did you know that nearly 40% of food produced in the U.S. ends up in a landfill? 🤯 In addition to imposing enormous financial burdens and inefficiently wasting resources at a time when food insecurity is still shockingly common, decomposing food waste generates methane. And while its presence in the atmosphere is short-lived, methane traps heat at 80x the potency of CO2, making it an urgent problem.
Unfortunately, methane emissions are an economy-wide problem, and the Climate Changemakers network recently helped address methane pollution from gas utilities. But landfills are a sneakier leading source, accounting for 17% of U.S. methane pollution. Organic landfill emissions present such a significant climate problem that the non-profit Project Drawdown, which evaluates a comprehensive list of climate solutions in terms of decarbonization potential, ranks reducing food waste as the #1 most effective climate solution in a 2ºC warming scenario. Smart, scalable solutions are readily available—it’s time to advocate for the systems-level change we need.
Remarkably cost-effective and low-tech solutions
We should be taking every measure we can to produce less unnecessary food and avoid throwing away still-edible food products. For example, our friends at Climate Town did a full video about food labeling. State governments can help divert food waste from landfills by offering incentives to donate unused food (read more about prevention and rescuing at the Climate Changemakers Food Waste Issue Briefing in the Action Plan). But even after changing our upstream approach, there will inevitably be organic food waste. When food is at a stage where it’s destined for landfill, composting it instead goes a long way in reducing methane emissions. This is because composting changes the food’s decomposition process; exposing organic matter to oxygen helps transform it into nutrient-rich soil (which in turn can aid in carbon sequestration!) instead of turning it into methane.
Despite its benefits, composting has yet to become mainstream in America. Only 12% of U.S. households have access to public composting programs, and 72% of Americans reported they don’t compost their waste. However, there’s a silver lining: 69% of non-composters said they would start composting if it were made easier for them.
It’s time for states to incentivize better food waste systems
To more easily integrate composting into our waste management systems, we need supportive state policies. Here are two ways state legislators and governors can drive that change:
Grants for municipal composting programs: Composting programs at the city or town level is a systems-level solution that makes composting much easier for an entire population of people! However, these programs can be resource-intensive, especially for smaller municipalities. States should provide grants that help develop these programs, covering the costs of necessary equipment, transportation, and educational campaigns.
Tax credits for food donations: About one-quarter of U.S. states have implemented tax credits to pay food producers and retailers for donating the excess food they cannot sell. We can urge every state to do this!
Tax credits for composting equipment: States should offer tax incentives to both households and businesses that invest in composting equipment. This could significantly lower the upfront cost barrier, especially for businesses that generate large quantities of compost.
Ready to take action on food waste?
Get in on the action by showing up on Zoom, this Monday, June 3rd, for a special Hour of Action kickoff party! We’ll talk with food waste expert Dr. Mamta Mehra, co-founder of RegenIntel, get inspired, and take meaningful action to push for policy change—all within the hour.
That event kicks off a powerful five-week advocacy campaign (launching June 3)! Folks in the Climate Changemakers network will carve out one hour each week (or five hours anytime in June) to accomplish a strategic series of five influential individual actions with the potential for outsized, system-level results. Take action anytime on your own or add a few facilitated Hours of Action to your calendar where we co-work together.
Civic engagement is a powerful climate solution. Own your power! Help us divert food waste from landfills across the U.S. this summer.