FOOD WASTE 

 

Let's face it we all love food. Especially here at Penn State, there seems to be a neverending amount of food available anytime and practically anywhere. Food energizes us and gives us the nutrients we need to live a healthy life and perform daily functions, but did you know that even the food we eat could have a negative impact on the environment? Last year, Penn State produced around 14, 163 tons of solid waste, almost half of which came from collective food waste primarily from the dining and residence halls on campus.  

 

Most of the food waste collected on campus is thrown away in landfills, where it decomposes and emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Production of food consumes vast quantities of water, fertilizer, and land, and thus wasting that food, could possibly contribute to more severe environmental problems like climate change.