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THE BASICS OF FOOD WASTE:
Who Generates Methane?
May 14, 2025
THE ESSENCE
As most people in the world are aware, we boycott ‘big oil’ for industrial activities that generate carbon‑dioxide, which contributes to climate change … but, shouldn’t we also boycott individual consumers?
An unexpected question—admittedly. But, here is the point:
Carbon‑dioxide (generated by industries) is only one of the gases released into the air that contributes to climate change. Another significant gas is methane (CH4). And, while individual consumers contribute significantly to the carbon‑dioxide problem through everyday activities (e.g. driving their cars, through flight travel, or by their untamed demand for the latest and greatest consumer goods), in this account, we will focus on individual consumers’ habits that generate methane.
TWO REASONS FOR FOCUSING ON METHANE GENERATED BY INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS:
  1. The everyday habits of individuals and families that generate methane is easy to change. Most notably: food waste.
  2. A change in these habits can result in a significant positive impact already in the near‑term.
THE BASICS ABOUT METHANE:
  1. Methane is a chemical compound, with the formula of CH4 (one carbon atom + four hydrogen atoms)
  2. Odorless, colorless, and transparent at standard temperature and pressure (i.e. invisible to the human eye) … no wonder we are not aware of it
  3. Methane is about 28‑80 times more potent than carbon‑dioxide (this measure turning out to be 27‑30 times over a 100‑year timespan)*
  4. Absorbs infrared radiation, trapping heat in the atmosphere ⟹ therefore, creates greenhouse effect, which causes global warming
  5. Naturally occurring methane is safely situated below ground and under the seafloor
    BUT:
  6. ‘Atmospheric methane’ (i.e. above the surface and in the atmosphere) generation massively increased mostly due to human activity
  7. ‘Methanogenesis’ is the biological route through which methane is generated, through anaerobic digestion. Occurs in landfills, soils, ruminants (e.g. cows), and the guts of termites
  8. An estimated 60% of today’s methane emissions are the result of human activity (e.g. from agriculture, fossil fuels, and decaying organic matter/ food in landfills)
IN A NUTSHELL:
Food thrown away ⟶ rotting process ⟶ generates methane (a highly potent greenhouse gas) which remains in the air ⟵ a seemingly small action of wasting a little bit of food is actually a powerhouse activity of increasing climate change.
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THE DETAILS
Methane is a greenhouse gas (and fossil fuel).
Greenhouse gas emissions warm the Earth by absorbing energy, and slowing the rate at which the energy escapes to space. They act like a blanket insulating the Earth—hence, causing global warming.
Although methane has a number of intentional uses through industrial routes in what we call ‘natural gas’ (such as fuel for ovens, homes, water heaters, or turbines), it is also generated through biological routes both unintentionally and intentionally due to human activity (such as wasted food rotting in landfills, or raising ruminants such as cattle for meat consumption by people).
Methane, compared to other fossil fuels, produces more heat per mass unit than other fossil fuels. That means, methane is more potent (i.e. more powerful) than, for example, carbon-dioxide (even though there is more carbon-dioxide in the air than methane).
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THE WAYS & THE NUMBERS:

HOW & HOW MUCH METHANE EVERYDAY PEOPLE GENERATE,
and WHY IT MATTERS
  • NATURALLY OCCURRING METHANE
    (Methane clathrates safely situated below ground and under the seafloor)
    • Formed by both geological and biological processes
    • The largest reservoir of methane is under the seafloor in the form of methane clathrates**
    • Methane is also present in permafrost, for example, in the Arctic, in Alaska, and in Canada
  • POPULATION‑BASED HUMAN‑ACTIVITY‑GENERATED METHANE
    (Atmospheric methane, causing/ increasing global warming and climate change)
    • About 60% of methane emissions are a result of human activity
    • Much of the methane generated by the population (i.e. everyday people) is generated by:
      • The decay of organic waste in landfills = thrown-away food rotting in landfills
      • Ruminants, such as cows and sheep raised in order to satisfy the general population’s demand for meat
        A single cow can produce nearly 100 kg (220 pounds) of methane per year
    • Methane generated by the population at large is
      atmospheric methane

      i.e. not constrained below ground, but is above the surface of the land and the seas, and in the atmosphere; and therefore, creates a warming effect, and contributes to global warming and climate change
    • Thrown‑away food ends up in landfills, emitting methane in the rotting process:
      • Consumers allow food to spoil, then throw the food away (or even before it begins to spoil)
      • Consumers dispose food, based on the sell‑by date even if the food is still safe to eat
      • Farms dispose (or don’t harvest) food that’s not quite up to cosmetic expectations, even if perfectly healthy
      • Restaurants and grocery stores dispose significant amounts of unsold food
      • Food waste is the single largest contributor to municipal landfills, and to the resulting methane emissions from landfills (58%)
      • Globally:
        • About 33% of all food is thrown away
      • United States:
        • 30‑40% of the food supply is wasted = Approximately 133 billion pounds of food per year = About 161 billion US dollars
        • A family of four wastes about $1500 each year on thrown‑away food
      • United Kingdom:
        • About 9.5 million tons of food wasted annually = About 14 billion GBP ⟵ Could feed about 8.4 million people
        • 70% of food waste comes from households
        • Food waste generates about 25 million tons of greenhouse gas per year
        • On average, each person wastes 70 kg of food per year ≅ 140 meals
  • THE SIGNIFICANCE OF METHANE AS IT PERTAINS TO HUMAN LIFE ON EARTH
    • Methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas (after carbon‑dioxide)
    • Accounts for about 11% of global emissions
    • 28‑80 times more potent than carbon-dioxide—this measure turning out to be 27-30 times over a 100-year timespan*, trapping heat in the atmosphere (having a GWP of 27-30, meaning Global Warming Potential)
    • Lives in the atmosphere for 7‑12 years
    • Methane contributes to climate change ⟹ Climate change also affects food security:
      • Growing and harvesting cycles become less predictable
      • Climate shifts affect timing of planting and harvesting, as well as prices
    • Methane is also a precursor to ozone; and ozone itself is also a greenhouse gas
      • Ozone is linked to public health impacts, such as asthma, weakened lung function, and cardiovascular diseases
    • THE GOOD NEWS: Because it is very powerful, and relatively short‑lived, reducing methane emissions can result in rapid and significant improvement in the climate change phenomenon: limiting near‑term warming, and improving air quality
      • ⟶ next
      • ⟵ back
      • ⟹ consequently
      • ⟸ as said before
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WHAT CAN
YOU
DO ABOUT IT?
In fact, quite a lot. We, as individuals can do quite a lot about reducing methane in the air by adjusting our food buying and food handling habits. No special tools, no equipment, no expertise, and no money needed. All we have to do is be mindful of how much food we buy, and how much of that we throw away.
BUY JUST ENOUGH/ DON’T THROW FOOD AWAY/ SAVE MONEY
This way, you will prevent the generation of additional methane, and will even save money by not spending it on food that you would otherwise throw away.
Absolutely zero food waste is quite unrealistic in the western world, but the little bit of leftovers you might have can be frozen for later consumption, or be repurposed.
FREEZE OR REPURPOSE LEFTOVERS
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT IT, SO THEY CAN DO THEIR PART FOR OUR EARTH
The more of us practice mindfulness about food waste, the greater the positive impact. In fact, because methane does its damage quickly and at high impact, reducing methane by wasting less food also results in quick and significant prevention.
By eating less meat (particularly beef and lamb), you lower the demand for animal agriculture, which lowers the methane generated by it.
REDUCE YOUR MEAT CONSUMPTION
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We don’t advocate zero household waste.
We advocate being mindful about waste.
What actions will YOU take?
For your present & future
For the children’s future
For the grandchildren’s future, and so on
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