How to Dispose of Food

Food Waste

There are many ways to dispose of your food waste, some better for the environment than others. Using food to create compost not only takes care of the disposal, but it also gives you a great organic soil enhancer for your garden. Keep in mind, however, that not all foods make good compost and are best disposed of in other ways. Otherwise, you could create a potentially unhealthy environment for yourself and your family.

Things You'll Need

• Compost bin Garden hose Pitchfork Garbage disposal Plastic garbage bags

Instructions

Dispose of Food

1. Purchase a compost bin or build your own. You can make a compost pile without a bin, but even using chicken wire on three sides will keep it in one place and make it easy to work with. Place it in an area that gets a few hours of sun each day.

2. Place all foods that don't contain meat or fatty products in the compost pile. Coffee grounds, tea bags and even paper towels can go into the compost. Add leaves, grass clippings, pine needles and paper to the pile. Wet it down. The next day turn it with a pitchfork, mixing every thing, and add your new food waste to it. Add more water when it starts to dry out and turn it again. Add grass clippings and leaves whenever you are cleaning up the yard. Do not put pruned branches or any diseased plants in the compost.

3. Place meats and fatty foods down the garbage disposal, if you have one. This will keep the fly activity to a minimum in your garbage.

4. Place anything that can't go into the compost or garbage disposal into plastic garbage bags along with your other non-recyclable trash and take it out to the curb for trash pick-up.

References

• Discarding Trash Without Using Plastic Bags