The Green Buck Stops Here

Most people think putting food waste into the trash can is harmless because it just rots away at the landfill. The fact is that rotting food creates a lot of methane which is a serious contributor to greenhouse gases. OK, then, just put down the garbage disposal. The problem of that is it’s hard on your pipes (ever had to pay a plumber to unclog your sewer pipes?) and it goes into the city sewer system. It still emits methane as it decomposes and the city has to use more energy to clean up the mess. The cost, of course, is passed on to you through your utility bills. My city has even asked us NOT to use our garbage disposals. Fortunately, there are several easy alternatives:

Supplement your pets’ diet:

Be careful with this one. There are several foods that you should not feed your pets. I don’t remember where I got this list but I remember it was from a reliable source. You can ask your vet or do a search on-line for more information.

Avocados, Beer, Nuts, Chocolate, Candy, Caffeine, Grapes, Raisins, Onions, Bones, spoiled food of any kind and, my own addition from personal experience, Pork.

Despite what some pet food manufactures may say, adding safe food scraps to your pets’ food is good for their health and gives them the variety they crave. They have different tastes just as humans do so experiment to see what they like. Limit very salty and processed food. They don’t need it any more than we do and the processed food might be hiding an ingredient that could be harmful. How does it save money? Mix it up in your pets’ food. You use less pet food and adding food that would otherwise be thrown away.

Feed the wildlife:

There are many foods that your local wildlife would gladly dispose for you. It’s probably best not to put your pile too close to the house or you might have uninvited guests in for seconds.

Composting:

This sounds like a lot of work but there are different way to do it and you end up with rich and free fertilizer. Any food that does not come from animal sources, except egg shells, and is not too greasy will work. Just toss it in with your yard scraps, etc., and let nature take it’s course.

If you don’t want to do the compost thing, you can bury your scraps directly into your garden. Just spread it out so your plants don’t become overwhelmed.

Worm Condos:

This is a excellent option for anyone who doesn’t have pets or a yard. The worms will turn your waste into worm castings which is one of the best fertilizers and is very expensive if you buy it at the nursery. There are many different ways to do this. You can buy worm condos or you can easily and cheaply make your own. You can buy worms (red wigglers) on-line, from a bait shop or just dig them up yourself. The same rules for food in the compost goes for worm condos. There’s a wealth of information on the internet on the subject. Don’t just click on the “sponsored inks.” Look around for what other people have done so you can find something that works for you.

If none of these ideas spike your interest, just don’t buy and cook more than you can eat. That’s about as free and easy as you can get.

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