Food waste is a problem that would appear to have a simple solution: stop buying more food than you need. Yet this appears to be much easier said than done. Even in best-case scenarios, food waste is likely to continue to be a problem that pollutes the soil and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Yet while food waste is a global problem, few countries have been able to tackle it as effectively as South Korea. Amazingly, in just two decades, the East Asian nation has gone from dumping 98% of all food scraps into landfills to a food waste recycling rate of 98%. Those scraps are now composted into fertilizer, made into livestock feed, or, most successfully, transformed into renewable energy, specifically biogas.
The average South Korean produces around 242 pounds (110 kg) of food leftovers per year, somewhat less than the average American’s 304 pounds (137.9 kg). However, in a country of nearly 52 million, that adds up to a whopping 15,000 tons per day. Remarkably, nearly all of that food waste is now recycled, but it’s not easy or cheap.
South Koreans are required to separate food waste from other recycling and trash. Disposing of food waste isn’t free, and mixing food waste with landfill-bound garbage can result in a fine. South Koreans can purchase government-provided compost bags and throw away leftovers in bins on the street. Others pay monthly via a digital card that is charged based on the weight of the food waste they throw away. Restaurants are especially keen to avoid food waste because of these charges, and some even impose small fees for diners who leave their plates unfinished.
Unfortunately, there are several country-specific conditions that have made South Korea’s food recycling program a success that would be difficult to replicate in other parts of the world, including the United States. Food waste recycling is particularly appealing in highly urbanized countries with high population densities, like South Korea, as there is limited land available for landfills and incinerators. The United States, on the other hand, has significantly more available land and a relatively low population density but higher transportation costs, reducing the likelihood of a successful national food waste recycling program. However, some U.S. cities, such as San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle, have thriving composting programs, and New York City is in the process of rolling out a mandatory curbside food recycling initiative.
Waste not, want not?
- South Korea has around 300 facilities that turn food waste into biogas. For example, the Daejeon Bioenergy Center recycles around 400 tons of Daejeon’s food waste every day, providing electricity and heating for around 20,000 households in the city.
- Surprisingly, despite South Korea’s massive investment in its food recycling program and the financial implications for residents, the quantity of food waste hasn’t changed much in the last five years. Around 5.5 million tons are still created every year.
- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that around 30% of food is wasted globally. Eliminating this food waste could reduce up to 8% of greenhouse gas emissions and potentially feed over a billion people.
- According to U.N. figures, Slovenians produce the least annual food waste, with an average of 134 lbs (60.8 kg) per person. Malaysians produce the most, with an average of 573 lbs (260 kg).
