A July 31 title in the Detroit Metro Times reported an alarming statement: “Michigan leads nation in toxic methane emissions from landfills.” The article identifies that Michigan is the sixth in the nation for methane emissions-–and it’s gotten bad enough that experts have identified “methane super-emitter events” in our state. These are methane emissions so massive that you can actually see them from space.

What exactly is methane, and why is it bad?

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that accounts for a substantial percentage of global emissions. Because it has a lifespan of roughly a decade, the cumulative effect is so damaging that it is a major contributor to climate change and is responsible for approximately one-third of the earth’s warming. Studies suggest that the concentration of methane in the earth’s atmosphere has risen by about 160% over the past 275 years because of human activity. That may seem like a long runway of time, but the earth’s atmosphere and the life living within it simply cannot withstand higher percentages of methane and the resulting increases in temperature. It’s unsustainable for our land, water, and air, not to mention our future.

What does this have to do with food waste?

When food waste deposited in our landfills decomposes, methane is released. The math is simple: more waste equals increased methane. We already know that our country wastes 40% of the food we produce, and while we’d all love to point to something or someone else as the culprit, it’s actually households that contribute to 48% of total wasted food. The good news is that that means each one of us can do something about this problem every day. 

At Make Food Not Waste, we see this as a call to action that is foundational to the work we do every day.

What can I do? Or is it already too late?

It is never too late to decrease your household’s food waste. For every pound of food scraps you keep out of the garbage, you’re keeping close to a pound of methane out of the atmosphere. Make Food Not Waste has free resources to help you regardless of household size, budget, or time constraints. Here are three actions you can take starting today:

1. Sign up for the 7-Day Food Waste Challenge. We’ve partnered with Planet Detroit to put together a week’s worth of simple strategies you can implement at home to reduce food waste.
2. Download the free Stop Food Waste Day Cookbook, which features easy-to-create recipes that give a second life to ingredients that most commonly go to waste.
3. Set a goal for your household that makes the most sense for you—and stick to it. Maybe it’s to make more meals at home, eat leftovers at work instead of going out for lunch, or commit to making the perishable food you’ve purchased the primary ingredients of meals. Whatever you decide, communicate this to your household and gain their commitment. (Bonus points if you do this with a neighbor or coworker and use one another as accountability partners!)

More ways to make a difference

1. Volunteer with us! Due to the large farm surplus during the summer months, we need all hands on deck in our kitchens to prevent perfectly good food from going to waste. Please sign up today to make a difference in our community.
2. Donate on Every.org. Make Food Not Waste is proud to announce our addition to Every.org, a platform for non-profits that supports donations via credit card, bank, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, crypto, stock, donor-advised funds, and more. Donate today to be part of the solution to climate change and food waste!