Every year in the UK, more than 6 million tonnes of perfectly edible food post-farm-gate goes to waste. This is equivalent to more than £20 billion and is associated with at least 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas, according to WRAP.

Whether it be manufacturers, retailers, restaurants or households, everyone contributes to this, which is why disposing of food waste properly has never been more important.

The figures above not only signal a waste of natural resources, contribution to global warming, social inequality and economic losses, it also shows that the end destination of what goes in the bin is just as important.

Food waste is a valuable resource that should never end up in landfill - yet it was estimated in 2019 that 40% of disposed food was decomposing in the ground in the UK.

This is why the Government have made the collection of food waste in a separate bin mandatory for businesses from April 2025 onwards with their new Simpler Recycling rules, meaning there is a need for everyone to get compliant.

In this post, we look in more detail at the harm food waste is causing to the environment and why disposing of it safely and properly is one of the most crucial first steps to a greener world.

Food waste in landfill is bad for the environment

If not separated to be repurposed, food waste often ends up in landfill sites where it becomes incredibly harmful.

As it breaks down under uncontrolled conditions, it releases methane, which has a global warming potential 23 times greater than carbon dioxide.

This is on top of all the greenhouse gas emissions already accumulated from the food’s initial production, transportation and preparation, which can themselves be reduced by switching to a low carbon diet.

Therefore, improper disposal of food waste in landfill only exacerbates the amount of pollution from an already problematic industry.

And if that wasn’t enough, it is also one of the biggest contaminators of recyclable materials, often resulting in lost recycling.

That’s because food waste in a sack of recycling can render an entire sack un-recyclable, meaning that having a designated separate bin where all tea bags, apple cores and orange peels go can help significantly reduce the risk of contamination and ensure all your recyclable materials go back in the loop.

Where does food waste go in the UK if disposed of properly?

Instead of heating up our planet through greenhouse gas emissions in landfill, food waste, whether it is avoidable or unavoidable, can end up powering your home or office, while also providing nutrients for agriculture.

This is possible through anaerobic digestion; a technique resembling the biological process in a human stomach.

To do this, food waste is placed into a giant tank with no oxygen, a lot of pressure and controlled heat where micro-organisms break down the organic material.

This biochemical process produces methane, which is collected and turned into electricity, while the remaining solid/liquid fraction called digestate is often used as a bio-fertiliser.

And to show you how even a small change can create a lot of good:

  • A single recycled banana peel can generate enough electricity to fully charge your smartphone twice.
  • One lorry load of food waste would be able to generate enough electricity to power 20,000 TVs for an hour.
  • The peelings from 6 potatoes could be turned into enough compost to grow a brand-new potato.

That’s why ensuring that your food waste is disposed of safely and properly is not only good for the environment, but also a great way of contributing towards a circular economy.

Why use First Mile when disposing of food waste?

London and Birmingham businesses can easily get rid of their food waste with First Mile.

We offer both food waste sack collection on a pay-as-you-go basis and a no-contract recurring food waste wheelie bin collection service depending on your needs.

And if you were wondering, these services are cheaper than a general waste service, so you’ll also be saving money by separating your waste!

First Mile is also here to help you with Simpler Recycling, so signing up with us means you’ll automatically be fully compliant when the new legislation comes into place in April 2025.