Where Does It All Go? The Sad Reality of Food Scraps

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Where Does it All Go? The Sad Reality of Food Scraps

Written by: Dylan Blane

Food scraps policy | Metro
A pile of Food Waste. Photo courtesy of Oregon Metro.


    In 2021, a Portland Fred Meyer lost power and due to health department requirements, the store was forced to throw all their perishable goods out. The perishables ended up in a nearby dumpster and photos of the dumpster started circulating on social media. Fred Meyer came out about how there was a risk that those who consumed this food would be at the risk of food borne illnesses. This is not a one-off incident; edible food goes to waste every day at almost every store front. Health department requirements and store policies lead to a massive amount of wasted food. What is our state doing to decrease this amount of wasted "garbage"?
    
    The Oregon Metro (2021) writes that Metro and local communities have been working to reduce food waste, keep food scraps out of landfills, and put them to better use for more than 15 years. Food scraps from participating restaurants, grocery shops, and other businesses in the area are now composted at facilities in Salem and Corvallis. Starting January 2025, food service establishments will be prohibited from disposing of huge volumes of food in the trash. Food generates methane in landfills, which has a greenhouse gas impact that is at least 24 times that of carbon dioxide. In the months leading up to that date, metro and local governments are assisting these firms in establishing collecting systems to guarantee that food wastes are segregated for composting or energy generation (Koffman & Fleet, 2022).

    Some might argue this still isn't enough. Questions such as: Why can't the leftover food go to those who need it? When can we see health regulation changes? How can people knowingly throw out 'good' food? Waste might see a decrease, but the need to feed the people of America will sadly have to wait for another solution.


References

Koffman, R., & Fleet, T. V. (2022) Food Scraps Policy. Metro. Retrieved from 

https://www.oregonmetro.gov/food-scraps-policy

Oregon Metro. (2021). Food Scraps Separation Requirement. Portland, OR.







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