ORGANICs

ANYTHING COMING FROM LIVING ORGANISMS LIKE PLANTS AND ANIMALS.

 

This kind of waste biodegrades, or breaks down into soil, and is a critical part of maintaining healthy land for living and growing. There are two kinds of organic waste: YARD WASTE & FOOD WASTE. 

 

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YARD WASTE

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Yard waste includes most types of outdoor, organic waste that can be found in yards and on properties. Common types of yard waste are grass, leaves, and tree and brush trimmings from residential, institutional and commercial sources. Yard waste makes up approximately 12 percent of material solid waste in the United States. 

 

Ways to minimize yard waste:

• Compost

• Mulching

• Leave in yard to biodegrade (grass clippings and leaves)

• Use to line gardens and flowerbeds to keep pests and weeds at bay

 

Where to compost/mulch yard waste:

Many municipalities or counties have yard waste collection or drop-off sites. Check locally with your city government or solid waste management district to find how to keep yard waste out of the trash in your area.
(find your district; find your local government site)

 

Other ways to minimize yard waste:

Some kinds of yard waste such as grass clippings have beneficial uses right in your own yard! Grass clippings break down quickly and are a valuable source of fertilizer for keeping lawns and gardens healthy. Grass clippings can also be placed in flower beds and vegetable gardens to keep pests and weeds at bay. Fall leaves provide valuable habitat for pollinators and other native animal species. See more tips on how to reduce yard waste from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).

 

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FOOD WASTE

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Here’s some food for thought—Have you ever considered the role food waste plays in the circular economy? Or how organic materials can nourish the soil we use to grow crops? Or how about what we can actually do with excess food? Food waste is a big problem, but your friends at Circular Indiana are here to help you understand what you can do.

 

What is food waste?

Food waste is any food that is wasted or not eaten. There are many kinds of food waste, and every part of the food system creates food waste. Some common types of food waste include waste from farms, food production or processing waste, restaurant waste, waste at retail stores, and waste generated by individual households. 

 

Types of food waste:

• Edible but less desirable food waste: often created during processing and preparation (broccoli stems, potato peels, seeds from tomatoes and peppers)

• Wasted food: food that could have been eaten, but was not for some reason (spoiled milk, burned food, uneaten leftovers, moldy cheese)

• By-products: Food waste created as a result of food production (whey from cheese production)

 

Why does food waste matter?

Each year, up to 40 percent of the food grown and produced in the United States is wasted. In fact, food waste makes up the biggest portion of waste in landfills - almost 25%!

• Putting food waste in landfills or incinerating it:

  • Generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change

  • Removes critical nutrients from Indiana soils, making it more difficult to grow nutritious and tasty food

  • Does nothing to help feed hungry Hoosiers

  • Generates air and water pollution that disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities, such as communities of color or low-income families 

 

Where does food waste occur?

Food waste occurs throughout the entire food system, including during production, processing, distribution, retail and consumption. Global food loss and waste amount to between one-third and one-half of all food produced. Food waste is the largest category of waste in landfills, making up almost a quarter of what Americans throw away.