In essence, food waste recycling and food waste diversion are both strategies aimed at keeping food scraps out of landfills. The reason is simple: keeping organic waste out of the landfill prevents the material from undergoing the oxygen-free decomposition process that generates methane as a byproduct. 

The approach may be more complex. Of these two strategies, one has the potential to make a bigger impact on your carbon footprint. The question then is should your organization focus on food waste recycling or food waste diversion?

What is the difference between food waste recycling and food waste diversion?

Food waste recycling defined

Food waste recycling is the process of turning any food not consumed by people into another usable substance. Perhaps the most well-known example of food waste recycling is composting. When food waste is composted, it becomes a nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used to fertilize plants and improve soil quality. 

There are many other food waste recycling strategies food production organizations can use. An onsite aerobic digester can be used to break food waste down into byproducts that include grey water, which can be used for landscape irrigation. Food waste can also be recycled as feed for livestock. In each of these strategies, food scraps serve a new purpose that benefits the environment. 

Food waste diversion defined

Food waste diversion is the practice of preventing food scraps from reaching landfills through strategies that may include food waste recycling as well as source reduction. Given that approximately 30% to 40% of all food grown in the U.S. is never consumed, organizations must address source reduction to truly move the needle on the emissions generated by food waste. 

By thinking broadly about how to keep food scraps out of landfills, organizations can more effectively tackle the food waste problem at its source. 

The value of food waste diversion for food production organizations

Greater adoption of strategies to divert food waste is essential to reduce an organization’s carbon footprint. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, food waste makes up approximately 24% of the solid waste disposed of in landfills. However, due to food waste’s quick rate of decay, it also accounts for approximately 58% of the methane emissions generated by landfills. More troubling still, landfill methane emissions resulting from food waste are increasing even as the total emissions from landfills decrease. 

Food waste recycling also reduces the emissions generated by transporting food waste to landfills. But thinking more broadly, strategies for the diversion of food waste have the potential to limit emissions generated during agricultural activities and food preparation. Right-sizing procurement, growing awareness around sell-by and use-by dates, and expanding food donation programs can also limit waste-related emissions. 

The food waste hierarchy 

These strategies, from most to least preferred are:

Reduce food waste through right-sized purchasing strategies.

Reuse food through food donation programs. 

Think bigger about how you can reduce food waste

Investing in solutions that give you the power to reduce food waste will have the greatest impact in reducing your organization’s carbon footprint. However, food waste reduction can be the most challenging change an organization can make. It may require cultural changes in how an organization views food production and manages waste. It also requires solid data on the types and amounts of waste your organization is generating. Tracking this data over time can provide invaluable insight into trends. This insight can help you accurately adapt purchasing decisions.

Solutions like the LFC biodigester from Power Knot give food production organizations an opportunity to address food diversion from two important angles. At its core, the LFC biodigester is an effective strategy for recycling food waste. Within 24 hours, the sealed equipment is able to break waste down into grey water, using all natural processes in an oxygen-rich environment. This equipment also provides organizations with the data they need to begin reducing their food waste altogether. In addition, the equipment’s NFC card readers allow operators to track food waste by type and amount. This data is visible via reporting available through the LFC Cloud. 

The U.N. has estimated that emissions generated by food waste account for 8% of all greenhouse emissions. When organizations create a strategy to divert food waste and adopt the right tools to support this work, they’re helping the environment and the 690 million people going hungry around the world. To learn more about how you can maximize your impact, contact Power Knot today.