This article explains the problem of organic waste management and where most of this waste, typically in the form of food waste, comes from. The article gives examples of how individuals can reduce their waste and shows how other cities have organized systems for reducing organic waste. The article stresses that systemic change at local levels is necessary to manage organic waste effectively. Students who do not already have systems in place may benefit from actionable steps to make changes, such as encouraging others to call local officials to change waste management practices. Students may also benefit from individual actions such as building their own compost. Students in younger grades can use the Building a Vermicomposter Action Toolkit to build a vermicomposter in their classroom. High school teachers can use the video lesson Rethinking Food Waste to get a closer look at food waste overall, including environmental justice issues.
Written By: MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative
The MIT Climate Change Engagement Program, a part of MIT Climate HQ, provides the public with nonpartisan, easy-to-understand, and scientifically-grounded information on climate change and its solutions.
Organic waste is anything made from plant and animal matter that gets thrown into the garbage. Most often, organic waste refers to waste food, but it also includes yard waste, paper, wood, some fabrics, sewage and manure. Both in the U.S. and worldwide, organic waste makes up roughly three-quarters of the waste stream.
Organic waste contains carbon. Therefore, as it decomposes, the carbon turns into carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane, both of which are climate-warming greenhouse gases. Methane is of special concern because it is a powerful greenhouse gas: in the U.S., methane from food waste does as much to warm the planet as fifteen coal-fired power plants. To manage organic waste effectively, we need to first adopt strategies to create less waste, and then dispose of what we do create in ways that do not contribute to climate change. But this will only succeed if policymakers set up easy-to-use waste disposal systems.
