For many of us, recycling cardboard, paper, metal and plastic has become second nature. However, more recently there has been a push for individuals and businesses to recycle their food waste, too. This is especially important if you run a business that produces lots of food waste, such as a restaurant or a hotel.
But, why is recycling your food waste so important? Here we discuss some of the most important reasons to do so.
Food waste contributes to landfill
As with every other type of waste, leftover food that hasn’t been recycled heads straight to landfill. Landfill sites are a huge problem for countries across the globe, so finding ways to minimise the rubbish disposed of in this way is essential to creating a healthier planet. After all, landfill sites contribute to air, water and land pollution, and rotting food waste, in particular, can attract pests to the area. This is something which can be avoided with responsible recycling solutions.
As food is an organic product, many people don’t realise the harmful effects it can have on the planet as it rots. In fact, rotting food waste produces methane gas, which is one of the biggest contributors to global warming and is even more harmful than carbon dioxide. To prevent rotting food from producing such poisonous greenhouse gases, it’s important to recycle organic waste responsibly.
Recycled food waste has many uses
Like many recycled products, recycled food waste has many uses. When disposed of responsibly by an established recycling centre, leftover food can be converted into fertilisers for agriculture. The gases produced by rotting food can also be collected and converted into natural energy forms, offering a much more environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. To make sure that your business’ food waste is disposed of responsibly and used to its fullest potential, it’s important to find a trusted recycling centre in your local area.
If you’re looking for commercial food waste recycling services in the Exeter area, look no further than Devon Contract Waste. We are proud to work with companies across Plymouth, Taunton, Cornwall and beyond to provide responsible recycling solutions with a Zero to Landfill policy. For more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch today.