With all of the parties and revelry surrounding the holiday season one of the things that goes largely unnoticed is the massive amount of food that gets wasted. Not only is this wasted food a slap in the face to anyone around the world who is hungry, it also creates unique problems for the environment, as much of this food waste ends up going into landfills. For decades people saw no problem with tossing food waste because they assumed that because it was natural and biodegradable that it would pose no problems to the environment. What scientists have come to realize is that organic waste like food is actually far more harmful than carbon emissions because as it starts to break down it can release methane gas which is far more deadly to the environment than carbon. This has led some organizations to look for new and innovative ways to cut down on food waste and to make sure it is disposed of properly.
One way to cut down on waste is to eat the leftovers yourself, or to drop them off at a local soup kitchen or food center where the food can be enjoyed by someone who needs it. If you do plan on eating your own leftover food the North Herts District Council suggests visiting the Love Food Hate Waste website which has a section called Glamour From Nothing which offers recipes on how to turn your leftover food into something delicious. Each year more than twelve billion pounds worth of food is discarded in the UK alone.
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