Do you know how much food we waste each day? According to RTS research, approximately 1.4 billion tons of food are wasted and sent to landfills annually, generating greenhouse gas emissions (GHG gases) that account for 11% of the total emissions. Taking the United States as an example, 40 million tons of food waste are produced every year, which equals 30% to 40% of the total food supply. Besides dumping food waste directly into the garbage bin, are there any other ways we can manage it at home, even if we don't have a backyard for composting?
Reduce Food Waste with a kitchen composter
If you have a backyard, starting a compost pile to turn food scraps into nutrient-rich soil is definitely a good idea. Alternatively, sending food waste to industrial facilities can help reduce the volume of municipal solid waste disposed of in landfills, thereby reducing methane emissions and lowering overall greenhouse gas emissions. However, not everyone has space or a backyard, and home composting can take several months to complete under ideal conditions. Additionally, industrial food composting facilities are not available in every country, region, or state. Therefore, a home composter can be a viable option for reducing food waste and promoting sustainability.
5 Home Composters Reviewed and Rated
| Brand Model | Price | Functions | Specifications |
|---|---|---|---|
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💲💲 | Break down food scraps, biodegradable paper boxes, clothes, and compostable plastics as soil | Size: 12” L x 16” W x 13” H Bucket Capacity: 3L Volume: Maximum reduce food waste up to 80% Time: Less than 4 hours |
 FoodcyclerNew FoodCycler™ Maestro |
💲💲💲 | Innovative, cutting-edge Vortech™ Grinding System and Air Flow+ technology enable quickly dry food waste, eliminate odors, and save electricity. | Size: 13.8” L x 13.8” W x 10.3” H Bucket Capacity: 5L, Up to 10 liters Volume: Maximum reduce food waste up to 95% Time: Less than 9 hours |
 NAGUALEP |
💲💲💲 | 126° high-temperature sterilization drying technology with built-in activated carbon filter | Size: 9.8” L x 9.8” W x 15.7” H Bucket Capacity: 2.5L Volume: Maximum reduce food waste up to 85% Time: Less than 5 hours |
 DACO- PRO |
💲💲 | UV sterilization , deodorization, extremely quiet and automatic cleaning functions that supports Chinese voice prompts | Size: 12.7” L x 11” W x 13.9” H Bucket Capacity: 4.5L Volume:Maximum reduce food waste up to 90% Time: Less than 8 hours |
 SmartCara 400 |
💲💲💲 | 99.9% sterilization level and available 5 different color choices. | Size: 10.2” L x 18.1” W x 14.1” H Bucket Capacity: 2L Volume: Maximum reduce food waste up to 95% Time: Less than 5 hours |
Apart from composting, there are few other ways that you can reduce food waste in your home:
#1 Plan your grocery list:
Create a grocery list based on what you need for the week, this can help you buy only what you need, prevent impulse purchases, reduce the chances of food going to waste.
#2 Check the pantry and fridge regularly:
How often do you clean out your refrigerator? Cleaning your refrigerator twice a month can help prevent food waste. To further reduce waste, it's important to understand the difference between the "best before date" and "expiry date". While the former indicates the recommended date for best quality, it doesn't necessarily mean the food is unsafe to eat after this date. Instead of relying solely on the date, use your senses to check the food's condition before throwing it away. When disposing of items with an expiry date, remember to unpack, rinse and recycle packaging appropriately. Regularly checking and cleaning your refrigerator is also crucial to prevent bacterial growth, which can cause illnesses such as diarrhea.
#3 Use leftovers and all parts of the food:
Repurpose leftovers into new meals or freeze them for later use, try to use the stems, leaves, and other parts of fruits, and vegetables that are often discarded to reduce waste。
Don't underestimate your power! By properly sorting food waste and using a kitchen composter, you can significantly reduce the size of municipal waste and make a big impact in the fight against global warming.
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