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I finally see how my food waste was a climate issue, not just a money thing | Climate Action - Free To Speak

I finally see how my food waste was a climate issue, not just a money thing

For months I kept buying the 5 lb bag of spinach from Costco because it was cheaper per pound, then tossing half of it every week. A friend pointed out that rotting food in landfills makes methane, and after 4 weeks of weighing my scraps I realized I was trashing about 3 lbs a week, so now I buy loose portions and compost the rest. Anyone else find that switching your shopping habits for the planet ends up saving cash too?

2 comments

2 Comments

angelarivera1mo ago

That's sort of the thing though, @the_brian... it's never just one action that moves the needle, it's the pattern. Like, once you start noticing one spot where you're wasting, it kinda bleeds into other stuff, you know? I started buying smaller bags of stuff, and next thing I knew I was meal planning and checking the fridge before I went to the store. It's like the spinach thing was just the crack in the door, and now I'm seeing all these little places where I was just throwing money and food away without thinking. And sure, my one kitchen bin isn't changing the world's methane output, but if a bunch of us do it, maybe the stores start stocking smaller portions anyway, which helps everyone.

the_brian1mo ago

Huh, that's a fresh take for sure... but I gotta say, I don't fully buy the methane thing as the main reason to change. I mean, sure, landfill gas is real, but my town's dump burns it off for electricity, so it's not like every scrap is just floating into the sky. I still waste food, and I feel bad about it, but mostly because I hate throwing money in the trash, not because I'm saving the planet by buying smaller bags. Composting's a nice hobby though, I'll give you that... just don't think my spinach habits are gonna move the needle much.