Unveiling the Complex Reality of Food Waste Recycling: A Holiday Reflection
As we approach the festive season, the inevitable surplus of leftover food raises questions about the often-overlooked journey of food waste recycling. In my endeavor to understand this process, I've uncovered a reality that is not only intricate but also comes with a hefty price tag, offering insights into the complexities of an often misunderstood system.
At the end of a holiday meal, plates are left at the exit, contributing to a full 120-liter bin. The journey of this food waste takes me to a recycling facility in Incheon, where, after meticulous processes like filtering out impurities, pasteurization, drying, and grinding, the recycled material transforms into a powdered form.
The recycling facility boasts an impressive 97% food waste recycling rate, primarily repurposing the waste into livestock feed and compost. However, the utilization of this recycled material falls short of its potential. Livestock farmers show reluctance in using feed made from food waste due to concerns about the meat carrying the scent of the waste. In 2021, despite producing 67,000 tons of recycled material at a cost of 3.7 billion won, only 4% was sold for money, with the majority given away for free or left unrecycled.
The demand for compost faces a decline as cultivated areas decrease, and the lack of facilities to harness biogas as fuel further complicates the recycling landscape. The ultimate realization is that effective reduction of food waste requires not only meticulous separation but also a robust infrastructure for utilization.
Globally, a staggering 931 million tons of food waste is discarded each year, contributing 8 to 10 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. As we head into a holiday season where food waste increases by over 20%, a call to action emerges: prepare only enough to eat, save money, and contribute to environmental preservation.
The intricacies of food waste recycling unveil a broader narrative—one that necessitates not just responsible disposal but a holistic approach to utilization. This holiday season, let's embrace a mindful mindset, not only for the environment but for the collective well-being of our communities.
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