I feed the deer to reduce food waste. If I shouldn’t feed the deer, are there other ways I can make environmentally sustainable use of leftover food?
Many people feed leftover food scraps to wildlife as a way to reduce food waste. As well-intentioned as this may be, human food is rarely good for wildlife, and feeding animals can lead to a variety of health and behavioral issues. One environmentally sustainable way to make good use of some food waste is through composting. Compost is organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow. Food scraps and yard waste together currently make up more than 30 percent of what we throw away, and could be composted instead. Making compost keeps these materials out of landfills and provides an effective way to fertilize your gardens (USEPA, 2022). Check out this great resource from the US Environmental Protection Agency for some advice on how to start your own compost!
One drawback to composting is that it can attract unwanted critters, including deer, but there are some ways to help keep these unwanted visitors out of your compost.
Mix kitchen scraps with soil or wood ash before burying it in your compost pile or bin.
Bury scraps least 8 inches deep into the compost pile.
Place a mesh screen over the compost, and secure the screen or place a heavy object on top of it.
Use a pest-proof compost container, such as a compost tumbler or a bin with a wire top or sealed lid.
References:
Scientific American, 2010. Trashing Gardens: Is There a Way to Use Compost without Attracting Unwanted Critters? Accessed at https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earth-talk-trashing-gardens/
USEPA, 2022. Composting at Home. Accessed at https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home