Food Waste, Compost Confusion, and What Families Can Do About It

Composting has come up in quite a few conversations lately—and, honestly, some of the reactions surprised me. Many people are still confused, hesitant, or even frustrated by the idea of separating food waste at home. But rather than be discouraged, I’m more motivated than ever to help clear things up.

The good news? Most of the barriers to composting are easier to overcome than we think. By breaking down some of the myths and offering real-world solutions, I hope to inspire more families to take the next step toward reducing waste—and ultimately help the planet.

What Is Food Waste?

Before we dive into composting, let’s talk about food waste itself. It’s harder to define than you might expect. Here’s a working definition that captures the complexity:

Food waste is any part of our food system that is intended for human consumption but ends up discarded—whether edible or inedible, and whether lost on the farm, during transport, in stores, or in our own kitchens.

That includes:

• Plate waste (leftovers thrown away after a meal),
• Overproduction (buffet lines and catered events),
• Spoiled food (the “wishful” produce at the back of your fridge),
• Transport losses (food that spoils before it hits store shelves),
• Cosmetic waste (bruised fruit left behind in the produce aisle),
• Scraps (peels, bones, eggshells—food prep leftovers).

In short, food waste happens everywhere—from farm to fork.

Why Food Waste Matters

We live in a deeply ironic global food system: we produce enough food to feed 10 billion people, yet millions go hungry every day. Many of us were raised hearing, “Finish your plate—there are starving children in Africa.” I remember thinking, “Well, send my plate then.” Of course, it’s not that simple. Logistics make redistribution nearly impossible. But what I can do is be more mindful of what gets to my plate—and what happens after.

Wasting food also wastes the enormous resources used to grow it: water, energy, land, and labor. Agriculture uses nearly half of the habitable land on Earth. It’s a major driver of deforestation and biodiversity loss. And once wasted food hits the landfill, it doesn’t just “biodegrade”—it rots without oxygen, releasing methane, a greenhouse gas more than 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.

Why Composting Isn’t as Simple as It Sounds

One question I hear often is: “Doesn’t food just biodegrade in a landfill?” Unfortunately, no. Landfills lack oxygen and sunlight, which are essential for decomposition. Instead of breaking down naturally, food rots anaerobically and releases methane gas.

That brings us to composting. It’s a natural process—but not a passive one. Successful compost needs:

• A balance of “greens” (food scraps) and “browns” (dry leaves, cardboard, wood chips),
• Access to air and sunlight,
• Occasional turning to keep it oxygenated.

That’s where some people check out—turning compost in your backyard isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay.

Accessible Alternatives

If traditional composting feels out of reach, here are some realistic ways to reduce food waste:

• Check for local food scrap collection. Some towns offer curbside pickup or drop-off programs.
• Ask your municipality to start a composting initiative.
• Explore private composting services, like Blue Earth Compost in Connecticut.
• Try a home food recycler. My family uses the Mill Food Recycler, which turns scraps into nutrient-rich grounds for gardens or animal feed. It’s clean, easy, and odor-free.

What You Can Do Right Now

This is a big topic, but small steps matter. Here are a few changes you can make today:

1. Plan your meals before shopping. It reduces overbuying and keeps food from going to waste. Need help? Try this grocery budgeting method.
2. Split meals when dining out. My daughter and I now share entrees—it’s less wasteful and saves money.
3. Make veggie broth from scraps. Here’s my recipe.
4. Donate excess food. Your local food pantry may accept unopened goods you can’t use.
5. Keep food waste out of your trash. Whether it’s composting, curbside collection, or a food recycler, the key is to divert scraps from landfills.

Final Thought

Composting might not be for everyone—but doing something is better than doing nothing. Whether it’s buying only what you need, storing food more mindfully, or exploring waste diversion options, you have the power to make a difference.

Let’s normalize reducing food waste—one household at a time.

What to learn more? Check out https://www.thecarbonemissions...