New DNR study shows Wisconsin is filling landfills with wasted food

GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently released it's 2020-2021 statewide waste characterization study, and found that organic waste was the largest category of waste found in Wisconsin landfills statewide. Organic waste is categorized as materials such as food and yard waste.

Casey Lamensky, DNR Solid Waste Coordinator, joined Rachel Manek on Good Day Wisconsin to talk about the significance of the results. “In addition to taking up valuable landfill space," says Lamensky, "landfilling these materials contributes heavily to the production of methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more powerful than carbon dioxide if released into the atmosphere.”

Lamensky says crews visited 14 landfills, including the Outagamie County landfill, and one solid waste transfer station around the state. Crews hand sorted 398 samples of solid waste from residential and commercial sectors.

The study found that wasted food was the largest component at 14.5%, and inedible food scraps, such as banana peels, was the third largest at 6%. Lamensky says, combined, these food wastes make up double the percentage found in a previous Wisconsin landfill study conducted in 2009.

So what can you do? Lamensky says there are simple things households can do to reduce landfilled food waste that also save money.

*Plan ahead by bringing a shopping list to the grocery store to prevent buying in excess

*Store food properly to extend its life

*Understand food expiration labels

*Compost food scraps

The study also takes a look at the amount of recyclable materials mistakenly put in garbage bins. Lamensky says the DNR estimates that in 2020, Wisconsinites threw away 490,300 tons of these recyclable materials .

More information about waste Wisconsin including recycling and solid waste studies and reports are available on the DNR website.