Person drops food waste into a composting container.

Earth Day Action Starts at Your Dinner Table

Community & Services

Earth Day is here, and like many individuals, you may be looking for different ways to help keep our planet healthy. The good news, there are many things you can do this Earth Day to help — one starts at your dinner table. 

Did you know that 40 percent of our food goes to waste? The average American family spends close to $2,000 annually on food that gets thrown away. That is a lot of money!

In addition to costing you money, food waste also has an environmental price. When you throw away food, it releases methane as it decomposes. Methane is a greenhouse gas with a more significant warming potential than carbon dioxide, making it more dangerous when released into our atmosphere. 

So, what can I do to stop food waste at home? 

  • Eat leftovers. Yum!
  • Put perishable items in the front of your fridge to avoid items being lost or forgotten in the back.
  • Avoid storing milk in your refrigerator door. This is the warmest part of your fridge and can cause milk to spoil faster. 
  • Compost your fruit and vegetable scraps. Composting gives you an excellent natural fertilizer that can save you money in the future.

You can contact the UF/IFAS Extension Orange County Office and sign up for an upcoming composting class by calling (407)254-9200 or RSVP online.

|
Back To Top