Food Waste is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gasses, especially methane, and CO2… BUT it doesn’t have to be.
We can all make changes to reduce and repurpose our food waste!
Helpful Sites
ReFED- Food Waste Monitor
ReFED is a non-profit organization that stands to Rethink Food Waste through Economics and Data. Their Food Waste Monitor shows annual food waste by destination, food type, & sector.
Which sector do you think contributes the most food waste annaully; Residential, Foodservice, Farm, Manufacturing, or Retail?
*Click the title above for more info
USDA- Food Waste FAQs
Check out the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Waste Frequently Asked Questions for more info on food waste!
EPA- Preventing Food Waste at Home
According to the EPA, the average family of 4 spends $1,500 a year on food that never gets eaten. Click on the title to find out more info and tips to making a difference in your household!
Make a Difference by Composting your Food Waste
One of the best ways to combat food waste is to create your own compost pile! I built mine out of old wooden pallets. Click here to see how to tell if your pallets have been treated with chemicals. The only thing I had to buy were door hinges from Home Depot!
The compost does need to be turned several times a week to prevent rotting and pests. The decomposition will speed up if your compost pile gets an adequate amount of heat… but either way, it will help reduce your carbon footprint!
*Don’t forget to add plenty of coffee grounds & leaves to your compost!! Also, despite what many people do, you do not need to rake your leaves every fall. In fact it is better for the environment to leave them where they are to decompose naturally. If you do rake your leaves, adding them to your compost pile instead of burning them is a great alternative!
Creative Ways to Repurpose Food Waste
SAVE YOUR EGGSHELLS!
Eggshells contain phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron & copper; essential nutrients for plant growth and development.
Save your crushed eggshells in an air-tight jar. Once it’s full, pour the shells around the base of the plants. Perfect for tomato & pepper plants.
**Some sights suggest drying out your eggshells, in the oven, before adding them to your garden. Either method will work, but if you want to preserve the shelf life of the shells, this is the best option.
SAVE YOUR BANANA PEELS!
Bananas are another great free fertilizer for your garden, they are full of potassium and will help supplement your garden with valuable nutrients!
Save your leftover banana peels and add them to a sealed mason jar with lukewarm water. Leave enough room to add more peels.
Let the jar sit anywhere from 24 hours to one week. The longer you wait the more nutrients will be in the water.
When you are ready to add the banana peel water to your plants, dilute the jar into a watering can/ or bucket and spread it around your vegetables.