Methane Madness: The Climate Cost of Rotting Food

Illustration showing the climate impact of food waste with a focus on methane emissions, featuring a landfill emitting methane gas, a composting bin reducing emissions, and symbols of community education and policy advocacy for sustainability.

When food waste decomposes in landfills, it produces methane—a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. This makes food waste a major contributor to climate change.

Why This Happens:

• Improper Disposal: Organic waste frequently ends up in regular trash instead of being separated.

• Lack of Composting: Without composting, methane emissions from decomposing food remain high.

Steps to Mitigate the Impact:

• Composting: Support and expand local composting programs to divert organic waste from landfills.

• Education: Raise awareness in communities about the environmental consequences of food waste.

• Policy Advocacy: Promote regulations that require food waste recycling and composting.

By working together on these fronts, we can significantly reduce methane emissions from food waste and move toward a waste-free, more sustainable future.