Page 5 - Everyday Kitsap 2016

Food Glorious Food

Making the most of our food in every way possible

veryone loves food, right?!
It’s a necessity to survive; it’s
delicious, what’s not to love?
E So why do we waste so
much of it? In 2013, more than 37
million tons of food was wasted in
America.* Of that wasted food, only
5% is composted or incinerated for
energy recovery. Food waste is the
single largest component of common
household trash, constituting slightly
more than 20% by weight. That means
that we are filling the nation’s landfills
with fuel for humans. Could you
imagine wasting that much of any other
fuel source? In reality we are. The water
to grow and process food, the fuel to
transport it, and the energy used to
process it, are wasted, along with the
food produced with these resources. and assisting businesses with waste organics collection programs are
The production of food is highly reduction programs, is our focus. available to most county residents. Go
natural resource-intensive. Agricultural Food composting has been available ahead and toss your food scraps in your
production produces 24% of the world’s to all residents with yard waste food and yard waste container – they
greenhouse gas emissions, occupies collection for more than five years. compost with your yard waste!
34% of the earth’s landmass (minus Some schools are diverting food waste Don’t have yard waste collection?
Antarctica), and uses 70% of the global from landfills through composting Call your collection company to see
water withdrawals.** It seems innocent programs, and the Retsil Veterans’ if you are in the collection area. For
enough to throw away a carrot, but Home in Port Orchard recently won business, consult Kitsap County’s Waste
what about the water used to grow that an award from the Washington Wise @ Work webpage at http://
carrot, the nutrients taken up from the State Recycling Association for their www.kitsapgov.com/sw/ww.htm and
soil that need replenished, the energy outstanding diversion program. schedule a technical assistance visit
used at the packing plant, and the fuel Composting programs are only part with us. If curbside collection isn’t
used to move it? When that carrot of the solution. The US Environmental available in your area, go to resources
hits the garbage can, all of the energy, Protection Agency has developed and educational materials on backyard
resources, and money used to bring it to a food recovery hierarchy that the composting and vermicomposting
the supermarket go to waste. County will use as a guide. It prioritizes (worm composting) at http://www.
Kitsap County is taking a stand waste reduction first, feeding humans kitsapgov.com/sw/SWsitemap.htm.
against food waste. In 2016 and second, feeding animals third, industrial For more information and resources,
beyond, the Solid Waste Division will use (energy recovery) fourth, and contact Kitsap1 at 360.337.5777.
be testing and implementing programs composting fifth, with landfilling and
to help reduce the amount of food incineration as last resorts. Recycle unused foods for soups,
we waste. Finding ways to make food- As these programs develop, you can sautes and more, to foodbanks
waste composting more accessible still do your part to reduce the food
to residents, collaborating with food wasted in your home, school, or place -- and, yes, for compost.
pantries to assist in diversion strategies, of business. Commercial and residential - COMMISSIONER CHARLOTTE GARRIDO

Sources: *USEPA, **World Resources Institute
KitsapGov.com | Spring 2016 | pg 5