South Korea Recycles 95% Of Its Food Waste. Can We?

Food waste is the 3rd largest source of methane emissions in the U.S. South Korea is successfully recycling almost 100% of its food waste. So, what can we learn about food waste recycling?

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The statistics show that we waste a lot of food. In the U.S. we send 66 to 80 million tons of food to landfills yearly. This waste is due in large part to the food industry itself, which accounts for 30 to 40% of waste. Yet, households also play a pivotal role in waste and the reduction of food in our landfills which means that our collective actions to reduce food waste can spark lasting changes in the environment.

One country that has managed to solve the problem of food waste is South Korea. The country has managed to go from recycling 2% of its food waste in the 1990s to 95% by 2023. Thankfully, success always leaves clues. So, learning about the programs the country implemented and how they incentivized households to recycle food waste can also educate us on how to reduce waste in our everyday lives in the U.S.

Korea’s Success

With the rise of urbanization over the last 30 years, significant changes occurred in Korea’s food systems that was a stark contrast from the frugality seen in the 1970s and 80s. There has been the emergence of industrialized food systems and larger amounts of waste. In response to the overcrowding of landfills in the capital area, South Korea introduced various measures in the late 1990s to address the growing concern over the disposal of trash. In 2005, the government prohibited the disposal of organic waste in landfills, followed by a ban on dumping leachate, the foul liquid extracted from solid food waste, into the ocean in 2013. Additionally, a universal curbside composting program was implemented in the same year, mandating the separation of food waste from general waste for all individuals.

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Since 2013, in compliance with South Korea’s compulsory composting program, inhabitants have been mandated to utilize bags for disposing of their leftover food. These bags, labeled with the phrase “designated food waste bag”, are available for 300 won (equivalent to approximately 20 cents) for a single 3-liter bag. In areas such as Geumcheon-gu, garbage is collected every day except for Saturdays. All residents need to do is remove any excess moisture and leave the bag outside in a designated bin after sunset.

These bags are taken to a processing plant where the plastic will be removed and the contents will be reutilized for biogas, animal feed, or fertilizer. Some cities have implemented automated food waste collectors in residential areas, allowing residents to skip using bags and instead pay the weight-based fee directly at the machine using a swipe card. The results of this system have been impressive, with South Korea recycling only 2.6% of its food waste in 1996, but now nearly 100% annually.

Food Waste Problems In The U.S

The United States is facing a major issue with food waste, as a large portion of it is still being disposed of in landfills, contributing to the country’s third-highest source of methane emissions. To address this problem, state and municipal governments are now recognizing the importance of recycling food waste. Recently, California passed Senate Bill 1383, which mandates all jurisdictions to collect separate food waste with the goal of reducing organic waste sent to landfills by 75% by 2025. Similarly, New York City, which has struggled with implementing a feasible food recycling system, has recently launched its first city-wide composting program in Queens.

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According to experts, while these experiments are headed in the right direction, there is still a long road ahead. At the moment, only nine states in the US have implemented a ban on dumping organic waste in landfills, leaving others to grapple with the expensive and complex task of developing new recycling systems.

The responsibility of determining appropriate recycling policies for their respective circumstances lies with individual states and cities. However, the South Korean approach serves as an example of fundamental principles that can aid in this decision-making process.

What Can The U.S Do Better?

One potential area for the United States to excel is community-based initiatives that aim to expand access to composting options in cities where such options are currently limited. Additionally, backyard composting can also play a role in providing nourishment for gardens. These smaller-scale approaches have the added benefit of involving consumers and households in the recycling of food waste, thus reducing the amount of waste in the municipal system. These methods also have the potential to create jobs and produce compost that can improve the quality of local soil.

How Can We Reduce Food Waste As Consumers?

Citizens who are concerned about the environment can play a crucial role in resource recirculation by adopting methods to reduce food waste.

• Separate Food Scraps. Korea’s food waste recycling program is successful because households separate food waste from other forms of trash. This allows it to be properly recycled or composted instead of sent to landfills. We can adopt this by storing food waste in a metal bin on the countertop or in a separate trash bin.
• Composting food waste. Save food scraps from fruits, vegetables, and herbs to compost in your garden, on your countertop, or through a pick-up service that will compost for you.
• Join a local local food co-op or community garden. These organizations are not just great places to learn about food waste, but also great opportunities to connect with your community. You can swap produce to avoid waste. Bring your compost to a local garden. And, shop locally more often to support local, small-scale farmers.

Conclusion

There is no universal solution to food waste but there are actions we can all take today to drastically reduce it. It is important for each person to examine the reasons for food waste in their own kitchen and identify ways to prevent it from happening.