Food waste
is categorized as food that has been discarded or gone uneaten. It can consist
of raw, cooked, edible, and inedible (bones, etc.) materials. In the United
States more than 34 million tons of food waste is generated and 1.3 billion
tons globally.
Generating
this type of food waste has both economical and environmental consequences. No
matter who you are, a portion of your income goes to buying food. Therefore,
you are throwing away money. By taking part in simple practices you can
decrease the amount of food waste in your household. Being conscious of the
amount of food you’re purchasing, and how you store and prepare it can offer a
reduction in your food waste.
Along with affecting
the economy, food waste also has a significant impact on the environment.
Generally food is disposed of in landfills. When food rots in these landfills
it produces the greenhouse gas known as methane. An alternative to disposing
food in landfills would be to recycle food waste through composts where it can
enrich soil and reduce the need for fertilizers and in some cases pesticides. Overall,
being more aware of your food waste production is important because while it
has negative impacts on the economy and environment, there are ways people can
reduce the amount of food they waste.