Household food scraps might create relatively little total waste, but they should not be ignored. Food waste represents, like other forms of waste, a surplus of production that cannot be consumed. Merely throwing it in the trash does not provide an efficient and long term solution.
Managing food waste more efficiently helps to promote a more environmentally sustainable future. Additionally, the waste of food in a world where many people go without a regular meal is inherently wrong. Addressing this issue is part of the reason why food scraps needs to be managed more effectively.
This blog provides households with nine different ways to more efficiently manage their food waste and food scraps. Following many of these methods will see households improve their relationship with both food systems and their overall waste management systems.
What Are Food Scraps?
Food scraps refer to any leftover food. It includes any uneaten food as well as the waste created during the cooking process. A common feature of food scraps is that they are a form of organic waste. This means that they are biodegradable.
Food waste accounts for roughly a third of household waste figures. Commonly this waste ends up in municipal landfills and other dumpsites. While this is not necessarily ineffective, it does not point to potential fault in Australia’s waste management system.
This is because simple waste disposal techniques are not as effective as other ways of managing waste. Ideally, waste should be managed as per guidelines like the waste management hierarchy. This seeks to find more efficient ways of managing waste.
Household Waste Management
Household waste management systems seek to find the best solutions for households. These solutions often borrow from the best of industrial waste practices, but additionally understand that large waste systems might not be as effective for a small household.
Cleanway has written extensively about how households can manage their waste systems in more effective ways. In our blog 10 Waste Tips for Businesses and Households, we suggested the following 10 tips for homeowners.
- Reduce Food Waste
- Reuse Plastic
- Follow Waste Disposal Guidelines
- Compost
- Use Energy Efficient Appliances
- Buy and Sell Second Hand
- Save Water
- Build a Green Community
- Support Local Farmers
Additionally, we have created specific blogs for managing challenges that households commonly face. Some of the blogs can be explored below:
- White Goods Disposal in Australia
- The Value of Electronic Waste
- Organic Waste: Creating a Sustainable Future
9 Tips for Managing Household Food Scraps
Managing household food scraps and general food waste revolve around being more mindful about waste disposal systems. As with any type of waste stream, effective management favours efficiency and reducing excess.
Following these tips can see households both reduce the amount of waste that they throw into bins as well as reduce their total waste quantity that needs disposal. We also understand that following every tip might not be possible. For this reason, we suggest keeping them in mind rather than seeking to follow them to the point.
Composting
Composting food scraps is one of the most effective ways to deal with different types of organic wastes. This is no different when it comes to food scraps. It also helps with environmental sustainability.
Additionally, having a compost bin or a general green bin for both food scraps and general garden waste will help with various forms of household waste. It is a great way promote green practices in your household.
Food Scrap Collection
Food scrap collection initiatives are a great way to get your entire community involved in green waste best practices. This method involves collecting your neighbours food scraps so that the whole load can be safely disposed of.
The main benefit of large scale waste collection programs is that it helps to build a large community of people who are interested in eco-friendly practices. Additionally, it helps to alleviate the pressure on local municipal waste infrastructure.
Meal Planning
One of the most effective ways of reducing waste is to ensure that it does not arise in the first place. This involves a degree of foresights. For food waste, this means planning your household meals.
Meal planning ensures that excess food is not used. It helps to promote sustainable practices and a general sense of awareness of how much production is needed to satisfy a single household.
Reuse Leftovers
Reusing leftover foods might seem obvious, but it is quite an effective way of managing excessive food waste. It relates to the waste management practice of recycling and resource recovery.
This means that food items can be used in ways that might not be obvious. As with other recycling practices, a good degree of creativity is needed. This provides households with a way to think more critically about their food production needs.
Freezing
Freezing excess food is both a way to reduce total food waste and a way to save on money. This speaks to an important aspect of good waste management: it saves money in the process of being efficient.
The cost benefits inherent in many waste management practices is something that Cleanway firmly believes in. By having an efficient waste management system in place, households can see cost saving measures in various different fields.
Education
Educating yourself and those around you about the general benefits of waste management can help to promote environmental best practices. It can also help to promote human health by practising safe disposal methods.
This is no different when it comes to the waste generated by food scraps. By training yourself about how to best manage food waste, you can leverage this knowledge to build a more eco-friendly future.
Portion Control
Overeating and large portion size is a major cause of excessive food consumption and food waste. Finding ways to manage this can be part of a general food waste management system. It saves from the excesses and it helps to curb obesity.
Additionally, being more aware about the large amounts of food waste produced will make people lessen the amount that they consume. This can lead to a general awareness of waste production across various streams.
Waste Audits
Auditing a waste removal system allows companies to make sure that their systems comply with local and international waste management regulations. In Australia, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works alongside companies like Cleanway so that they can give their clients and customers approved and eco-friendly waste solutions.
Find out more about waste audits here.
Contact a Waste Management Company
Partnering with Cleanway for your bin hire needs gives consumers the opportunity to find the right bin for their specific waste management needs. Cleanway’s clients include commercial customers and average households.
Closing thoughts
Whether you recycle food scraps, use a food scraps bin, compost bins, or use any other food scraps systems for dealing with other organic waste types, you can see a great increase in your households waste management systems. This will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and can help to build a nutrient rich soil.
Reducing food waste by safely disposing food scraps and other vegetable scraps should be seen as part of a general organic materials management plan. This can be easily implemented by any household.