# Reducing and Managing Food Waste

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/05/reducing-and-managing-food-waste/
- Published: 2017-05-31T03:05:48-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

With Australians wasting as much as 20% of the food they purchase, i.e. with more
than $1,000 wasted every year by an average household on food they don’t even touch,
the importance of reducing these staggering numbers is greater than ever.

Whether food is forgotten about. I mean wrongly thrown away. All before best-by 
date or because we don’t know how to use leftovers. Because we are causing irreparable
damage to the environment.

# Methane

Namely, while rotting, food gives off [methane](https://www.edf.org/climate/methane-other-important-greenhouse-gas).
A chemical which is much more potent. Most importantly than the carbon pollution
from car exhaust. Also, all the resources used in producing food, including water,
electricity and others are wasted for nothing if you throw away food.

So, what is it that we need to know and do about reducing and managing food waste?
Let’s look at some tips that should help us be much more efficient and responsible.

**[⌊With australians wasting as much as 20 of the food they purchase i E With more
than 00 wasted every year by an average household on food they dont even touch the
importance of reducing these staggering numbers is greater than ever Whether food
is forgotten about wrongly thrown away before best by date or because we dont know
how to use leftovers we are causing irreparable damage to the environment Namely
while rotting food gives off methane which is much more potent than the carbon pollution
from car exhaust Also all the resources used in producing food including water electricity
and others are wasted for nothing if you throw away food⌉⌊With australians wasting
as much as 20 of the food they purchase i E With more than 00 wasted every year 
by an average household on food they dont even touch the importance of reducing 
these staggering numbers is greater than ever Whether food is forgotten about wrongly
thrown away before best by date or because we dont know how to use leftovers we 
are causing irreparable damage to the environment Namely while rotting food gives
off methane which is much more potent than the carbon pollution from car exhaust
Also all the resources used in producing food including water electricity and others
are wasted for nothing if you throw away food⌉[

## **Educate everyone about the importance**

Whether we talk about regular households, companies or even restaurants, it’s vital
that you include as many people as possible in the process of trying to minimize
food waste. You can run a test and collect all the food you’d waste over a period
of one week and calculate how much money you’ll be wasting. Make sure everyone else
also finds out about the amount. Also, you should raise their awareness about the
impact on the environment to help the cause.

### **Get professional help**

In case you would like to maximize your use of food products and minimize waste,
you might need to consult a professional in the increasingly important and popular
[environmental consulting](https://web.archive.org/web/20190125214603/https://enviroxconsulting.com.au/).
They should be able to tell you how you can achieve your goal or, if you are acting
on behalf of a [restaurant](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/09/6-tips-to-make-a-restaurant-more-eco-friendly/)
for example, whether you’re in compliance with all necessary standards and regulations.

Also, you might ask a volunteer group concerned with environment protection and 
helping people [go green](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/03/los-angeles-group-buys-start-up-gathergreen-com/)
for help as well. They are bound to give you information about some organizations
that collect unused food and distribute it to those who need it.

#### **Buy smart**

Although it’s convenient to have a full fridge at all times, you’re also running
a risk of not being able to use everything you’ve bought. In order to avoid buying
too much food, we first need to make sure we never go shopping for food hungry, 
because we tend to buy much more then.

Next, we should carefully select the food according to the best-by date and look
for products that were produced most recently. That would give you more time to 
actually use up all the stuff you’ve bought.

**[⌊Reducing and managing food waste⌉⌊Reducing and managing food waste⌉[

#### **Store properly**

Don’t let your fruit, vegetables and other food produce go bad because you’re not
keeping them in appropriate conditions. Choose appropriate containers and label 
them once you put cleaned products in them, so that you know when you bought the
products and how long you can keep them.

#### **Smaller portions**

It makes sense that if you serve smaller portions, you waste less. If you simply
have to fill a plate, choose a smaller one and you’ll find yourself faced with less
leftovers. The visual effect of a full plate, though a smaller one, will satisfy
your need to have a “decent” meal, but you’ll actually be saving both your money
and food.

#### Sort out waste

If you really have to get rid of some food, make sure you sort it out appropriately.
Everything that can be recycled, such as food packaging, glass, plastic bottles,
paper or organic waste, should be disposed of in a way that it can be reused. Also,
you can use food scraps and all green food for compost that you’ll use in your garden.

#### Final thoughts

If you just think about how many people in the world have problems finding food.
Look folks, the idea of you throwing some of it simply because you’ve not been careful
is becoming even more disgusting. Likewise, by managing your purchase of food, storing
and cooking better. Then you’ll be able to save quite a lot of money. Especially
if the current statistics is anything to go by.

Finally, the food we buy and consume. For it contains much more than meets the eye.
Someone has put in a lot of effort to produce that food. Also and used resources
such as water and electricity. So, when you throw away your food, you’re also throwing
away everything. I mean that’s been used in the process.

 

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

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