Guide: How to manage food waste and organics on the path towards zero waste
C40 Cities
Effective food- and organic-waste management is integral to any city’s zero waste roadmap. A third of food produced globally is lost or wasted, and food waste accounts for between 8-10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is a major urban source of methane, an extremely potent GHG. Separating organic waste from dry recyclables like plastic and glass allows cities to recover and process this waste. Organic waste is also a valuable resource for cities, as it can be used to produce renewable energy, reduce hunger through food surplus programmes, restore nutrients and moisture to soils and more. Cities including Vancouver, Dubai, Buenos Aires and San Diego all have aggressive waste diversion goals with a strong emphasis on organic waste.
The food waste management hierarchy sets out the options that deliver the biggest benefits.
Zero Waste Recommendations at a Glance:
- Set ambitious food- and organic-waste reduction goals as part of wider waste-reduction goals – ideally, aim for zero waste.
- The diversion and treatment of organics has wider local benefits, including for water resources, health and sanitation, and produces revenue-earning outputs such as heat, compost and biogas. These benefits and opportunities should be included in any evaluation of the costs of diverting and treating organic waste.
- Assess your city’s organic waste sources and the characteristics of organic waste they generate, to inform policies to reduce and divert this waste and to track their effectiveness.
- Develop and pilot a multi-approach strategy for organics collection, and gain the support of waste-management operators at an early stage. Raise awareness and engage stakeholders with tailored communications campaigns.
- Encourage – or require – waste generators to separate organics, using incentives and nudges such as providing more frequent organic-waste collection.
- Invest in treatment technology that is right for your city, and explore opportunities to leverage existing treatment infrastructure. Locate the site close to the city and to existing waste management sites.
The C40 Cities guide sets out how cities can implement food and organic waste management initiatives effectively, including assessment, collection and transport, treatment, and communications and public engagement.
