South Korea has found a way to turn food waste into a sustainable solution while reducing carbon emissions. Almost two decades ago, South Korea banned food scraps from its landfills, and since then, the vast majority of the country’s food waste has been turned into animal feed, fertilizer, and fuel for heating homes. Meanwhile, food waste left in landfills is a significant contributor to climate change, not only because of the methane it produces but also because of the energy and resources wasted during its production and transportation.
South Korea’s solution has been studied by governments around the world to emulate, and officials from China, Denmark, and elsewhere have toured the country’s facilities. New York City has been observing the Korean system for years, and it is set to require all residents to separate food waste from other waste by the fall of 2022.
South Korea’s policy has been successful because of the country’s culinary tradition, which results in uneaten food. Small side dishes, sometimes a few, and sometimes more than a dozen, accompany most meals, and practically all of those leftovers used to go into the ground. However, the Korean mountainous terrain has limited the number of landfills that can be built and how far from residential areas they can be.
Since 2005, it has been illegal to send food waste to landfills, and local governments have built hundreds of facilities for its processing. The country’s system has been successful, with 90% of discarded food being kept out of landfills and incinerators. Consumers, restaurant owners, truck drivers, and others have been part of the network that gets food waste collected and turned into something useful. The South Korean government spends approximately $600 million per year on the program, and it is a cost that other countries can learn from and emulate, according to Paul West, a senior scientist with Project Drawdown.
South Korea’s food waste processing facilities are used for various purposes, including animal feed, fertilizer, and biogas. Inside the processing plant, the strong odors can cling to fabric and hair, but outside, they are barely noticeable. Pipes run through the building, purifying the air via a chemical process before the exhaust system expels it.
Despite its success, South Korea’s food waste program has not achieved its goal of reducing food waste. However, the system has helped to reduce carbon emissions and increase the production of biogas and fertilizer. While the program’s cost has been a significant drawback, it remains an effective way to reduce food waste and carbon emissions. The South Korean program should be emulated by other countries looking to reduce food waste in a sustainable manner.
