Say you’ve cooked a nice meal in your kitchen and start to clean up by throwing away the unused food scraps in your trash. From your waste bin, the food scraps eventually make their way to a landfill via your trash hauler. Once there, the food scraps will begin to decompose and produce methane – a powerful greenhouse gas that is a major contributor to climate change. Although it may not seem likely, those decomposing food scraps have the potential to power a vehicle, enrich the soil of growing plants and more.

The State of California recognized the harmful consequences of not diverting organic waste, including food scraps and green waste, away from landfills and took action by rolling out Senate Bill 1383. The bill requires all cities in the State of California to begin recycling organic waste. By 2025, the State hopes to reduce 75% of organic waste in landfills and save at least 20% of surplus edible food, from places like restaurants and supermarkets,  to feed those in need instead of letting it go to waste.

The Town of Yucca Valley will soon roll out a program to help residents comply with SB 1383. In the meantime, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations gives a few tips on how to reduce food waste starting today at home:

Buy only what you need – Plan your meals. Make a shopping list and stick to it, and avoid impulse buys. Not only will you waste less food, you’ll also save money!

Pick ugly fruit and vegetables – Don’t judge food by its appearance! Oddly-shaped or bruised fruits and vegetables are often thrown away because they don’t meet arbitrary cosmetic standards. Don’t worry - they taste the same! Use mature fruit for smoothies, juices and desserts.

Store food wisely – Move older products to the front of your cupboard or fridge and new ones to the back. Use airtight containers to keep open food fresh in the fridge and ensure packets are closed to stop insects from getting in.

Understand food labeling – There’s a big difference between “best before” and “use-by” dates. Sometimes food is still safe to eat after the “best before” date, whereas it’s the “use-by” date that tells you when it is no longer safe to eat.

Love your leftovers – If you don’t eat everything you make, freeze it for later or use the leftovers as an ingredient in another meal.

Put your food waste to use – Instead of throwing away your food scraps, compost them. This way you are giving nutrients back to the soil and reducing your carbon footprint.

Sharing is caring – Donate food that would otherwise be wasted. For example, apps (like Nextdoor) can connect neighbors with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away.

For more information regarding the State’s new organics recycling law, visit CalRecycle.ca.gov/Organics/SLCP.

For more information about organics recycling in Yucca Valley, visit: Yucca-Valley.org/Services/SB-1383-Organics-Recycling or scan this QR code with your smart device.