Why What You Throw Away Matters: Tackling Food Waste and Climate Change

Every time we toss a half-eaten sandwich or last night’s leftovers in the trash, we’re contributing to a global problem that’s far bigger than we often realize. Food waste doesn’t just clutter our trash bins; it’s a significant driver of greenhouse gas emissions, producing potent methane when it decomposes in landfills. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, food waste accounts for up to 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions—more than the emissions from aviation and shipping combined. In the U.S. alone, about 30–40% of our food supply ends up uneaten, wasting all the resources—land, water, energy—used to grow, transport, and store that food, and accelerating climate change along the way. Methane, released as food scraps rot in landfills, is over 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in our atmosphere, which means that every bit of that banana peel or uneaten salad that lands in the garbage has a real impact on our climate.

But there’s hope, and it starts right in our kitchens. Innovative solutions like Mill are changing the way we think about food waste. Instead of letting those scraps rot and release methane, Mill’s bin uses dehydration and grinding technology to process waste overnight, turning it into something that can be repurposed as animal feed or soil enrichment. The result? No odors, no mess, and no methane emissions from landfills. Plus, it’s a direct step towards a circular economy where our waste actually becomes a resource.

The impact can be huge. Households are responsible for over 40% of all food waste in the U.S., which means every home has the power to make a difference. Just imagine: if every household reduced its food waste by even 20%, we could prevent millions of tons of methane emissions annually. It’s easier than you think to get started: be mindful about meal planning, portion sizes, and leftovers. Think before you toss—can those scraps be repurposed or frozen for later? Food waste is a problem we can tackle at home, and by making these small changes and if you’re ready to embrace tech-driven sustainability solutions that contribute to a cleaner, greener future.