“The following comes from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (www.ilsr.org), a national nonprofit organization working to strengthen local economies, and redirect waste into local recycling, composting, and reuse industries. It is reprinted here with permission.” 

While food waste is only one part of zero waste, we can’t reach zero waste without managing food waste. Reducing waste and diverting scraps to where it can be used is essential. For the waste that remains, individuals can compost at home or contribute to local organizations to manage food waste. These steps all contribute to the reduction of food waste sent to landfills and incinerators, which has negative environmental and public health effects. Read about Baltimore's plan for Zero Waste on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance's website here!

For more information about home composting or collecting organic waste, check out our page about how to start collecting food scraps and composting.