How Is Food Waste Disposed Of? Everything You Need to Know

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From composting to food banks, here's what to do with unwanted food

Co-authored by Kathryn Kellogg and Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: December 12, 2024 Fact Checked

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• How to Dispose of Food
|
• Composting at Home
|
• Donating Unwanted Food
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• Storing Food Scraps for Later Disposal
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• Reducing Food Waste
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• Things to Avoid
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• Expert Q&A

|Show more |Show less

It’s easy to waste food, whether you’re cooking at home or eating out, but throwing away food responsibly is important! Food releases methane when it rots—a greenhouse gas that can be dangerous to the environment. Food recycling programs, composting organic materials, and giving away what you can to charity are among the most responsible ways you can dispose of food waste. You can also try to minimize your food waste with smart grocery shopping and proper food storage. In the article below, we'll show you how to do all these things and more.

Quick Food Disposal Methods

• Compost organic materials like vegetables, coffee grounds, and eggshells in a compost pile outside.
• Recycle organic food waste at a local recycling center if you can’t compost at home.
• Donate any usable, non-perishable food you don’t want to a local charity or food bank.
• Get rid of food scraps like vegetables, cooked meat, and leftovers in a sink garbage disposal.
• Wrap moldy or spoiled foods in a thick plastic bag before throwing them in the garbage, and get rid of them as fast as possible.

Steps

Section 1 of 6:

Best Ways to Dispose of Food

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1. 1
   Compost organic and biodegradable food scraps. Composting foods that can be organically disposed of at home is a great way to reduce the amount of food you throw in the trash! It's good for the environment—and for your garden, if you have one, since homemade compost will fertilize the soil. You can compost food scraps such as fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, eggshells, nutshells, and tea bags.

   • Don’t try to compost meat, dairy, or oils this way.
   • If you don't have a yard, you can still compost at home with an earthworm farm.
2. 2
   Recycle food waste accepted by your local recycling center. If you don’t have the space to compost at home, you can still deal with food waste responsibly by visiting your local recycling center. Plenty of them have facilities to deal with food waste and composting; you’ll generally be able to bring your food waste there and either leave it with someone or dump it into the appropriate container.

   • Be sure you check the specific guidelines for your recycling center before you go. You may need to separate your food waste in a particular way before you take in it.
   • Make sure you know what food waste they accept and what they don't. For example, they won’t take meat, but they will take organic waste, such as fruit and vegetables.
   • Your local government will be able to provide details on recycling facilities near you.
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3. 3
   Donate unwanted food to local charities. If you have food clogging up your cupboards that you are not going to eat, there is an alternative to just tossing it in the trash. Donating food to local charities, such as food banks and soup kitchens, is a great way to make sure nothing goes to waste. Search for food banks and food drives in your area, and call up to ask how to donate.

   • Many national hunger charities—such as Feeding America or the Salvation Army—also have online search tools that’ll help you find food banks in your area.
   • If you run a business in the food industry, there are also apps to help businesses donate unwanted food, such as Waste No Food.
   • As an individual, working with established charities, either local or national, is often the most effective way to help people.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Feeding America

   Hunger Relief Organization

   Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. They support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries, and meal programs.They also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security, and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living, and employment. They partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger.

   

   Feeding America
   Hunger Relief Organization

   Prevent food waste and help people facing hunger by donating to Feeding America.

   Did you know that 92 billion pounds of perfectly good food goes to waste in the United States each year? Feeding America's Food Rescue program works to prevent this waste by partnering with grocery stores, farmers, and food manufacturers so their excess food goes to people experiencing food insecurity rather than landfills. Feeding America network is the stopgap between fresh food and food waste. A monetary donation to Feeding America helps fund this important mission and helps to reduce hunger across America.
4. 4
   Use a local food waste disposal service. Depending on where you live, you may be able to use a food waste disposal service run by the local authorities. It’s becoming increasingly common for local authorities to provide a small food waste composting bin to households, which is then picked up alongside the regular trash collection. Check to see if your neighborhood is part of a food disposal scheme and get involved!

   • You can also try talking to your neighbors and see if they know about a food disposal scheme in the area.
   • In these schemes, you’ll often be provided with compostable bags to put your food waste in.
5. 5
   Get rid of food scraps in your garbage disposal. If you have a garbage disposal attached to your sink, use it to dispose of food when cleaning up after a meal. Scrape food waste into your drain and turn on the disposal while running cold water. Listen for the grinding up of your food waste. Turn off the disposal and the water when you hear the blades return to their normal, empty position.

   • Okay to put in the disposal: Fruit and vegetable scraps, fruit pits, corn cobs, cooked meat, small bones, leftovers, and ice.
   • Do not put in the disposal: Oil, grease, clam or oyster shells, a large number of eggshells or vegetable peels at once, corn husks, artichokes, and any non-food items (like glass, metal, plastic, or paper).
   • Be careful about disposing of expandable food like rice or pasta, since they can cause clogs.
6. 6
   Collect oils and fats in a container. Dispose of cooking oils and fats by collecting them in a jar, tub, or other container that you don't mind throwing away. Do not pour hot oil or fat from cooking meats down your sink drain—this will cause plumbing problems that may be expensive. You should always dispose of oil and grease in the trash, not down the drain!

   • Throw the jar of fat into the trash when it gets full; don’t recycle it.
   • You can use leftover fat to make fat cakes for your bird feeder. Just mix the fat with some dry kitchen scraps (like porridge oats) and leave it in the fridge overnight. When it’s hard, you can hang it from a tree or put it in a bird feeder.
7. 7
   Throw away anything that can’t be recycled or donated. Some foods are inappropriate for composting or recycling, including dried pasta, rice, bread, and other grains. Dried foods like pasta and rice can be great to donate to food banks and generally have a long shelf-life, but if you do find some really old, out-of-date pasta or rice at the back of your cupboard, just toss it in the trash.

   • Dairy products also can’t be recycled or composted, so if you need to dispose of them, throw them in the trash.
   • You might be tempted to feed stale bread to birds in your garden, but it has little nutritional value, and moldy bread can even hurt birds.
8. 8
   Put spoiled or moldy foods in the garbage safely. Act fast and deal with any food that’s spoiled; it should be separated from the rest of your trash and wrapped in heavy-duty plastic bags, then disposed of quickly. If you can, put meats and other foods that rot fast into the trash on the day it’ll be collected, since rotting food can attract pests and insects.

   • Put meats and any raw foods you’re throwing out into plastic bags and tie each one tightly before putting them into your trash bag. This will minimize leaks and odors.
   • Ensure your trash can is fully secured and there aren’t any odors coming out that could attract pests.
   • Get rid of your spoiled meat as fast as possible to avoid any potential problems with maggots.
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Section 2 of 6:

How to Create a Compost Pile at Home

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1. 1
   Make your compost bin or pile outside. Many people find it easiest to store their compost in a large bin, but you can also do it right on the ground, in an area with good soil drainage. Combine your nitrogen-rich food waste (or “greens”) with carbon-rich materials (or “browns”) like cardboard and newspaper, and mix it in with soil and dirt so the food can be broken down.

   • Browns: Dry leaves, plant stalks, twigs, shredded paper and cardboard, and untreated wood chips.
   • Greens: Fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, tea bags, coffee grounds, and grass clippings.
2. 2
   Start your compost pile with a layer of “browns.” Then, add greens on top of that first layer—and keep alternating layers as you add to the pile, like a lasagna. Generally, aim to have 2 to 3 times the volume of “browns” in your compost pile as you have “greens,” and keep your food scraps covered with browns!

   • Having the right proportions is important because it gives the composting microorganisms what they need to break everything down properly.
3. 3
   Give your compost pile oxygen and water. Don’t let your compost dry out; keep it in a shady spot, if you can, and add water to it when necessary. Try to keep your compost about as damp as a wrung-out sponge—not swimming with water, but not dry either. Then, whenever you add new material to the pile, turn it with a garden fork or other tool to let fresh oxygen in.

   • Oxygen and moisture both help with the composting process, which is why they’re so important.
   • Once your compost has broken down, you can mix it into the soil wherever you want!
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Section 3 of 6:

How to Donate Food

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1. 1
   Sort through your food and determine what can be donated. Generally non-perishable food, such as tinned vegetables, soups, fish and meat are all appropriate to donate. Low-sugar cereal, tubs of peanut butter, raisins, and juice boxes are also very welcome! Be wary of food in glass jars or containers; some charities may not accept them because of the risk of them breaking.

   • You can also ask your friends or neighbors if they’ll take your usable food—but, of course, it’s always a good thing to give to charity!
2. 2
   Pack up the food and deliver it to a local charity of your choice. Take your food to a local food bank and deliver it to the staff and volunteers there; they’ll be happy to see you and accept your donation! Just make sure everything is packed well and in accordance with their guidelines on what can be donated. If you’re ever unsure, you can always call beforehand and ask or check their website for guidelines.

   • While you're at the food drive you could find out a little more about the work they do as well.
   • Food banks often look for new volunteers to help organize and distribute incoming donations. If you have some spare time, why not get involved with the charity and volunteer with them?
3. 3
   Donate food from a restaurant if you run one. You can donate excess food to charity if you run a restaurant. Contact a local charity with details about the food you wish to donate, and they will send a truck or van to come and collect from the restaurant. You may also be able to donate perishable and prepared foods, which will be frozen or delivered immediately to a local shelter.

   • You can find a list of organizations that perform this service on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website.
4. 4
   Donate food from a grocery store or food wholesaler. You can also donate excess food from a grocery store or food wholesalers. The process is similar to that for restaurants and hotels; you’ll need to contact a local organization and give them details on the excess food you would like to donate. The organization will then arrange to pick up the food directly from you.

   • You could become a corporate partner of a local or national food charity if you are an organization that frequently has food waste.
   • Being a corporate partner enables you to make a regular arrangement for donations and may offer your business tax benefits.
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Section 4 of 6:

How to Store Food Scraps for Later Disposal

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1. 1
   Time your food waste disposal so you’re not too early. It’s not always possible to dispose of your food waste right away, since garbage collection usually happens weekly (or on a set schedule). Leaving food in the garbage until the next collection day can result in smells as the food decomposes, attracting animals and breeding flies. So, consider storing perishable food scraps until it’s time to dispose of them!
2. 2
   Create “slop jars” to store food waste in. Pick a container with a sealable, tight-fitting lid. Ideally, it should be made of glass—such as a pickle or spaghetti sauce jar—but you could also use a sealable metal can, like a coffee can. Just keep in mind that the metal might create a rust ring if left in the sink. Then, store your food scraps in the slop jar and seal it up until it’s time to throw it away.

   • If necessary, chop the food scraps into small enough pieces to fit into the slop jar. Once it’s sealed, don’t reopen it; this will let the odor out (unless you freeze the jar).
   • Avoid cardboard containers, like the cylinders oatmeal comes in, since they may get wet and leak from the decomposing food.
   • On garbage day, throw the entire slop jar out! You can also dump the contents in the trash and reuse the slop jar, but this can be messy. If you do so, wash the jar outside.
3. 3
   Freeze food scraps until it’s time to dispose of them. Freezing food scraps will halt the decomposition process and kill any insects or larvae. You can use this in conjunction with the slop container method (and freeze the whole container) or freeze large items (like watermelon rinds) in the freezer whole. Just make sure you don’t forget about any frozen items on garbage day!

   • Try placing a post-it note on your freezer or the trash can to remind yourself to throw out any frozen scraps.
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Section 5 of 6:

How to Reduce Your Food Waste

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1. 1
   Store your food effectively so it keeps longer. Storing food incorrectly often causes it to go bad before its time, or gives it a limited lifespan. So, take the time to store food effectively; that way, you can waste less and get more value for your money. After all, throwing out food you could’ve used is a waste of money! For instance:

   • Freeze any fresh foods you won’t use right away so you can still use them at a later date.
   • Consider freezing cooked leftovers like soups, stews, casseroles, and pasta if you aren’t going to finish them within the next 3 to 4 days.
   • Secure all of your storage containers and store them in the appropriate temperature and climate conditions.
   • For example, some foods need to be kept in the fridge, and others should be in kept in a cool, dry place.
2. 2
   Buy only as much food as you need. Buying less food is a simple (and economical) way to reduce your food waste. Pay attention to how much you normally throw away, and try to make some adjustments to your grocery shopping accordingly. For instance, try to plan out your meals for the week and then just buy what you need to make those dishes.

   • Be wary of special offers and buy-one-get-one-free deals. If you’ll just end up buying perishables that you won’t use, ignore the deal and get what you need.
   • Before you buy food, ask yourself if you’ll be able to store it, or if you’re more likely to end up throwing it away.
3. 3
   Use up all of your leftovers. There are lots of creative ways to use your leftovers; you can turn them into extra meals or snacks, or use them to make stocks and stews. Look for recipes that use what you have left and aim to use every bit of food you cook. You can find a host of helpful recipes for leftovers online!

   • For example, you could make croutons out of leftover bread crusts, or use fruit peels to make jam.
   • Be sure you use leftovers safely. Pack them properly in airtight containers, and keep them in the fridge or freezer.
   • Keep leftovers in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days at most, and don't reheat food more than once. If you need to keep the food longer, you can store it in the freezer for up to 4 months.
4. 4
   Find creative ways to upcycle food scraps around the house. Even if you think there’s nothing left to do with some food scraps beyond throwing them in the compost or trash, you might be surprised! There are plenty of ways to upcycle food (or even just the scraps). For example:

   • Use banana peels to water your plants. Put your banana peel in a jar or bucket of water and let it sit overnight; the potassium and phosphorus in the peel will leak into the water! Then, use that water to hydrate your plants.
   • Make homemade air freshener. Boil a few citrus peels in water to create a natural air freshener for your home. Or, just toss the peels in your garbage disposal if it’s starting to smell.
   • Infuse your water or olive oil. You can use fruit peels (orange, lemon, grapefruit, and limes, for example) or zest to infuse water or olive oil and give it a bit of flavor.
   • Start a vegetable garden. Use the seeds, pits, and cuttings from vegetables to start your own little garden and grow veggies of your own! You can do this with lettuce, celery, green onions, avocados, and more.
   • Save your bread crusts. Nobody wants the end piece of a loaf of bread—so put it in your bag of brown sugar instead. The bread will keep the brown sugar soft!
   • Reuse almost-empty food containers. If there’s a tiny bit left inside a jar, you can use what’s left to flavor your food by cooking inside the jar itself! For example, you could make overnight oats in a jam, peanut butter, or Nutella jar.
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Section 6 of 6:

Things to Avoid

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1. Keep food waste out of your sink and toilet. Putting food waste in your septic system (by flushing it down the toilet or putting it down the sink drain without a garbage disposal) can affect your plumbing system, block sewer systems, and potentially require you to get your septic system pumped more often. While it’s possible to flush soft food scraps down the sink drain or toilet, it’s not recommended.

   • In particular, take care not to wash food scraps, coffee grounds, oils, or fats down the sink if you have a septic system.
   • Even using a garbage disposal can potentially affect the warranty on your septic system, so be mindful of how often you use it (and limit yourself where possible).

Expert Q&A

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• Question

  Why is it best not to throw away most foods?

  

  Kathryn Kellogg
  Sustainability Specialist

  Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. Kathryn is the author of two books focusing on sustainability, 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and 101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen. She is the spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, has been featured by the Guardian, CNN, Refinery29, and Bustle, and has a following on instagram of over 700k.

  

  Kathryn Kellogg

  Sustainability Specialist

  Expert Answer

  Organic matter does not break down in landfills. Landfills aren't aerated for the proper decomposition of organics. That means food waste and food scraps are not broken down properly.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 2 Helpful 0
• Question

  How can I eat a more sustainable diet?

  

  Kathryn Kellogg
  Sustainability Specialist

  Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. Kathryn is the author of two books focusing on sustainability, 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and 101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen. She is the spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, has been featured by the Guardian, CNN, Refinery29, and Bustle, and has a following on instagram of over 700k.

  

  Kathryn Kellogg

  Sustainability Specialist

  Expert Answer

  Try phasing out beef and opting for more climate-positive foods, like more plant-based meals or meals that have a lower carbon footprint.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2

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