What is the difference between moldy bread and a banana peel, and why does the difference matter? This month, the Love Food, Fight Waste program is delving into the difference between preventable and non-edible food waste. 

Preventable vs non-edible food waste

Preventable food waste is once-edible food that should have been consumed but instead is wasted, such as moldy bread or sour milk. Five of the most wasted foods include milk, cheese, potatoes, apples, and bread. Sound familiar? 

Non-edible food waste is any part of food that is not normally consumed or eaten, such as a banana peel, watermelon rind, corn cob, coffee grounds, or eggshell. 

Non-edible food waste is unavoidable; it’s the banana peels and meat bones. The Love Food, Fight Waste program is working hard to reduce preventable food waste. 

To learn more, visit icgov.org/lovefood, and pick up your free Love Food, Fight Waste refrigerator magnet today at either the City Hall front desk, 410 E Washington Street, or at Table to Table, Pepperwood Plaza, 1049 US-6 E.

Why are we talking about food waste?

When food is wasted, it wastes all the resources that went into growing, manufacturing, distributing, and transporting that food, too. That’s a whole lot of energy, water, and transportation miles wasted just for that food to end up uneaten. On a local level, landfilled food waste produces a strong greenhouse gas called methane, which contributes to climate change. One of the best things each of us can do to take climate action is reduce food waste in our daily lives.

These tips are brought to you by Love Food, Fight Waste, a collaboration between Table to Table and the City of Iowa City. 

Questions? Reach out to Jane Wilch, City of Iowa City Recycling Coordinator, at 319-887-6110 or jane-wilch@iowa-city.org, or Nicki Ross, Table to Table Executive Director, at 319-337-3400 or nicki@table2table.org.