When food is thrown into landfill, it emits harmful gas into the environment as it decomposes. This gas is called Methane. Methane has a much higher heat-trapping capability than carbon. It is believed that Methane is 23 times more damaging than carbon dioxide. Therefore, it is suggested that eliminating food waste would be the same as taking one in four cars off the road worldwide.
On campus, we segregate food waste in the majority of retail and all our catering operations, as well as providing the opportunity for students to do so in all our on-campus halls of residence. This food waste is then sent for anaerobic digestion instead of going to landfill saving both money and the environment.
In support of Food Waste Prevention Week, the University’s Sustainability team and Enva (the University’s waste contractor) are hosting a webinar on Wednesday 8 March from 2pm-2:30pm. You can join the webinar via MS Teams.
This article is in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger and Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.