Most people don't realize how much food they throw away each day – from uneaten leftovers to old produce or food.
Here's some food for thought: Californians send 11.2 billion pounds of food to landfills annually, and organic waste makes up over 50 percent of what landfills receive each year. Unfortunately, food waste also increases greenhouse gas emissions, which harm the environment.
That's why Roseville and other California communities are rethinking and improving their recycling practices. In 2016, California passed SB 1383, which established statewide targets for local jurisdictions to work toward composting organic waste and reducing the amount sent to landfills. This legislation aims to reduce statewide organic waste disposal by 75 percent by 2025, which will help reduce methane gas – a significant contributor to the rise in Earth's temperature.
Since Roseville uses a Materials Recovery Facility to sort recyclables from trash, customers can continue to use their trash and recycling bins as part of the City’s broader effort to reduce organic waste sent to landfills. Over time, these efforts are intended to increase the recovery of organic material that can be used for compost.
Recycling food waste is one of the most significant developments in the trash and recycling industry in 30 years. The goal is to lower climate change super pollutants to reduce challenges, including:
- Bigger fires
- Longer droughts
- Higher temperatures
- Stronger storms
Food for Soil: Addressing food insecurity while reducing impacts of climate change
Discarded food is often still fresh. Roseville plans to assist with food recovery to feed those in need by coordinating with local food banks, soup kitchens, and food recovery organizations.
This coordination includes developing partnerships and encouraging grocery stores and distributors to recover and redirect excess fresh food rather than waste it. These efforts help address food insecurity in our community while also supporting compliance with state regulations.
Diverting food waste through residential programs and food recovery efforts helps reduce the amount of organic material sent to landfills over time, lowering greenhouse gas emissions. When organic material is successfully diverted, it can be put to beneficial use as compost, returning nutrients to the soil.
This resource is available for purchase at the landfill located at 3195 Athens Ave, Lincoln, CA 95648.