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6 Actions to Minimize the Amount and Weight of Kitchen Waste

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Leftover organic matter from kitchen waste Credit: Philmore Thompson

How often do you remove kitchen waste from the home? Garbage has a way of piling up quickly. When it does, obnoxious odours and pests increase making it necessary to empty the bin almost every day. Here is what you can do to minimize the amount and weight of garbage from the home kitchen to make it easier for disposal.

Buy with the idea to minimize kitchen waste

Shop Smart

Buy with the idea to minimize kitchen waste. Foods that can be stored for long periods can be bought in bulk. Perishable foods should only be bought for the short term as they rot quickly, so it is best to buy only a few days’ supply. Take reuseable bags to buy food for kitchen.

Store Selectively

Store raw meat, cooked meat and vegetables separately in the refrigerator to prevent cross-contamination. Put perishable foods in sealed containers to preserve freshness and reduce spoilage time. Less spoilage reduces amount and weight of kitchen waste.

For recycling, metal cans and plastics should be washed or cleaned

Sort Waste

Sort kitchen refuse by separating paper and cardboard, metal cans, plastics, food peelings, and left over foods scraps. Put paper, cardboard, metal cans and plastics in garbage bags, collect food peelings for composting, and find animals to feed left over food scraps. For recycling, metal cans and plastics should be washed or cleaned of food residue before placing into bags.

Send to Landfill

Send the kitchen waste in garbage bags to the landfill. Either put it out for the garbage trucks or if there is not a disposal system in your area, you can take it to a public bin closest to you. Depending on where you live, it may be possible to burn the paper and cardboard, and send the plastics and cans to the dump or to be recycled.

Seeds that germinate in your compost can be used

Create Compost

Peelings, pulp and seeds that are discarded during preparation can be composted. It is possible to use an area in the yard away from your house or a specified container to dump the fresh refuse. Stir the compost regularly to allow air to circulate throughout your kitchen waste. Seeds that germinate in your compost can be used for your personal landscaping, sold or given away.

Feed Animals

To get rid of left over meals and scraps of meat, gather it for your pets or for those who have animals such as dogs, cats, birds, chickens, goats, cows or whatever animals can be found in your vicinity that eat such refuse. The animals will love the treat.

 


 

Buy with the intention to reduce

This is a basic guide to help you to minimize the amount and weight of kitchen waste. Buy with the intention to reduce, sort as you prepare meals and dispose according to the means set forth in your area of residence. It is a sure thing you will have less waste piling up in the kitchen and there will be less odour and pests as well.

 

This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute expert waste management advice. For more home maintenance-related articles and news, check us out at Nohuts.com.

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