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Texas is like a fruitcake – there are some really desirable parties, some that are totally disgusting and others that you can feel, but that you will not miss if they disappear. Yet, taken as a whole, it's pretty good.
Among these seemingly disparate regions, Austin is a polarizing city – it's too strange or just plain, depending on who you ask – but one thing is for sure: it's one of the most progressive cities in the state. This is illustrated only by the new law that prohibits restaurants in Austin from throwing leftovers at the end of the night, ordering them to compost them or give uneaten food to those who are hungry.
The ban, known as the "food rerouting program" – applies to all licensed food companies and is not limited to recycling food. Employees also need to undergo training on handling waste because improperly handled foods are not helpful to anyone and compost can be highly flammable if not handled properly. As the state capital, the city sets an example to the rest of the Texas restaurant industry. A study conducted in 2015 showed that 37% of landfill waste was organic matter and could have been converted into compost.
Darby Hoover, Senior Resource Specialist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, explained that food waste not only adds "organic matter to landfills (where it generates methane, a potent pollutant of global warming)," but we also waste the entire world. Water, land, energy and money. , labor and other resources required for the cultivation, processing, distribution and storage of these foods. "
Austin is not the first city to adopt such a law – it lies behind San Francisco, Seattle and New York – but it's a big win for sustainability in Texas. The compost part of the story is pretty cool, but the coolest part is feeding people who need a good meal. Saving money is dope, but saving lives is important every time.
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