Your Actions Make a Difference

Imagine a world where everyone composted, our soil would be richer, plants would be healthier, and the impacts of climate change would lessen. Have you ever wondered how often people divert their food waste into the trash without thinking about further consequences? 

You may have heard many people talk about composting, and you might think, What even is composting? Composting turns food waste into useful fertilizer and prevents harmful methane from landfills. Composting gives a lot of benefits, like fertilizing soil and keeping rats off trash and streets. It is very easy to do at home and requires minimal effort. According to an article by Science Direct, food waste accounts for 8% of the total greenhouse gas emissions globally as of 2014. 

Many people end up throwing their waste in the trash without realizing it. Their food waste ends up in the landfill, where it gets trapped under piles of other waste and breaks down without oxygen. This creates methane, which is released from US landfills at high rates. If this continues, it could contribute to climate change. Overall, food waste in landfills produces more methane emissions than any other type of waste.

This is why I urge you to think about what even the simplest actions can do before the impacts of methane emissions get to our environment.

Sofia Stil, 9th Grade, Marin School of Environmental Leadership, Terra Linda HS, San Rafael, CA

To learn more about what you can do to impact climate change, click here.