What to Do With Food You Can’t Rescue: Start Composting
The fridge door swings open. You’re on a mission: grab what you need, get dinner started, avoid the science experiment forming in the produce drawer.
But there they are. The mushy strawberries. The forgotten leftovers. That one sad slice of bread that’s more crouton than sandwich-ready.
We’ve all been there. And while tossing it in the trash might feel like the only option, it doesn’t have to be.
What Happens When Food Can’t Be Rescued? Let’s Talk Composting.
At Last Mile Food Rescue, our mission is to save good food before it’s wasted and get it into the hands of nonprofits serving those in need. But what about the food that can’t be rescued, like spoiled produce or household leftovers? That’s where composting comes in. While we don’t accept single-household donations, you can still be part of the solution right from your own kitchen. Whether you have a backyard or live in an apartment, there are simple ways to get started. We’ll break down what composting is, why it’s better than tossing food in the trash, and simple ways you can get started at home.
What is Composting?
Let’s rewind to those mushy strawberries and that stale slice of bread. Instead of being sealed in a plastic bag and buried in a landfill, where they’d release harmful greenhouse gases, imagine a different path. They land in a bin filled with eggshells, coffee grounds, and veggie peels. Over time, with a little oxygen, moisture, and help from hardworking microbes, that pile of scraps transforms. It breaks down into rich, dark compost, often called “black gold” by gardeners. This nutrient-packed material can be used to grow more apples, more veggies, and more food.
That’s composting. Nature’s version of recycling, and a powerful way to give food waste a second life.
Why Composting Is Better:
For food that can’t be eaten, composting is a much better alternative than landfilling. Composting allows food to break down in the presence of oxygen, significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Composing also:
- Improves soil structure and fertility
- Reduces erosion and runoff
- Conserves water by helping soil retain moisture
- Stores carbon in the ground (a process called carbon sequestration)
- Reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
Compared to landfilling, composting can reduce emissions by up to 80%, and when used in healthy soil, it can even become a net positive for the environment.
How to Start Composting:
Wondering how to start composting? Here’s are some ways to do it at home:
Backyard Composting (Outdoor Option):
If you have a yard, you can create your own compost pile or use a bin. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A compost bin (store-bought or DIY)
- Browns – dry materials like leaves, cardboard, shredded newspaper, and twigs
- Greens – food scraps like fruit and veggie peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells
- Moisture – your compost pile should be damp, like a wrung-out sponge
- Air – turn or mix your pile every week or so to help it break down properly
When these elements are balanced correctly, this process is natural, odor-free, and effective.
Indoor Composting (Apartment-Friendly Options):
No outdoor space? No problem! Try:
- Countertop bins: Store food scraps in a small compost bin (or even a container in your freezer) and drop them off at a local compost site or farmers market.
- Compost services: In Cincinnati, companies like Queen City Commons offer pickup or drop-off composting, making it easy to compost even in an apartment.
What Can Be Composted?
Yes:
- Fruit and veggie scraps
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Tea bags (no staples)
- Eggshells
- Plain rice or pasta
- Shredded paper, newspaper, cardboard
No:
- Meat, dairy, or bones
- Oily or greasy food
- Plastic or synthetic materials
- Large amounts of citrus peels
Every Scrapped Peel Counts:
Composting may seem like a small action, a banana peel here, a handful of coffee grounds there, but it adds up. It keeps food out of landfills, reduces greenhouse gases, and turns waste into something that gives back.
Our goal is to rescue food before it ever has to become compost. However, it takes many moving parts to make that happen. Every successful rescue requires real coordination and real resources to get food from donors to the nonprofits who need it.
Whether you’re rescuing food, reducing waste, or saving your scraps, you’re part of the change. Because food is too valuable to waste. If you believe in keeping good food out of landfills and getting it into the hands of those who need it most, consider making a financial donation. Together, we can keep it moving forward.
