South Korea recycles 98% of its food waste. What can it teach the world?

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🗞️ Driving the news: South Korea recycles 98% of its food waste, transforming it into compost, animal feed, and biogas
• This impressive system involves mandatory separation of food waste by residents, supported by fees and fines, and a network of facilities like the Daejeon Bioenergy Center, which powers about 20,000 households daily

🔭 The context: South Korea's rigorous food waste policies were driven by the need to reduce landfill use and combat methane emissions
• While countries like the U.S. struggle with low food waste recycling rates, South Korea’s system highlights the benefits of nationwide food-waste management, though it's challenging to replicate due to differences in population density and infrastructure

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Food waste contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions
• South Korea's model offers a blueprint for reducing waste and emissions, though experts stress that the most effective solution is to reduce food waste at the source

⏭️ What's next: Despite the success in recycling, South Korea faces challenges, such as ensuring the quality of recycled feed and fertilizer and adapting biogas production to seasonal demand
• Experts note that while South Korea's system may not be easily adaptable elsewhere, it underscores the importance of reducing food waste overall

💬 One quote: “It’s one of the biggest — and dumbest — environmental problems we have today,” said Jonathan Foley, executive director of Project Drawdown, about food waste

📈 One stat: South Korea recycles 98% of its 15,000 tons of daily food waste

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