USES FOR INDUSTRIAL FOOD WASTE

Professor of Horticulture and Crop Science at Ohio State University, Katrina Cornish, recently published a study that shows great potential for the conversion of food processing waste to both useful products and lowering this waste stream’s environmental impact.  If scaled up and implemented, it would make a big difference in meeting the United State’s goal of reducing food waste 50% by 2030.

The process of finding “second life” for waste products is of interest to both environmental scientists and the food industries themselves.  Finding a solution that potentially reduces the cost of elimination and introduces new “products” is a great motivating factor for cooperation from food processing industries.  The researchers divided the types of waste into different categories---- Some waste was more suited to the production of fertilizers and others to biofuels.  Others wastes may be used as fillers for certain products.  These same researchers, for example, are studying using certain scraps as filler in rubber products that would replace a certain small percent of petroleum based materials. 

The environment would benefit by less use of landfills for the solid waste and the sewer systems less burdened with the liquid waste.  There are, however, more things that can be done to reduce food waste from  grocery store methods. To restaurant and cafeteria waste methods.

We can all do a better job of managing our individual food waste by shopping with a specific food list and a worked out meal plan.  This may also reduce impulse food buying (we all are watching our food bills these days---so this will help) We can store food properly to avoid spoiling before use and prepare and eat leftovers as much as possible.  There will be some scraps left over.  What should we do with these?  Learn to compost or find a scrap pick-up service—stay tuned for new Tidbit articles.

Earth Steward Action:  Are you doing your part in reducing food waste by better shopping, food storage and eating leftovers? Have you considered composting?

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230125085902.htm

The author of the article is Emily Caldwell.