More than one-third of food in the United States goes uneaten. Most of that ends up in landfills.

That’s why more than 50 officials signed a letter. They sent the letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They want the EPA to help their towns and cities cut back on food waste.

It might seem odd that food causes problems in landfills. After all, food is biodegradable. Unlike metal or plastic, it rots away quickly. Isn’t food the only garbage you’d want to bury?

Food waste produces methane gas. (The same thing happens in your body!) Just a little food produces just a little gas. But we’re talking about one-third of all the food in the whole country. That’s a lot of food—and a lot of gas. One EPA report says over half of landfill methane comes from food waste. Many scientists believe that’s bad for nature.

The signed letter asks for money to put old food to better use. California already requires “organic waste collection.” Californians dispose of food separately from other garbage. Some unwanted leftovers get turned into compost. Compost helps make soil healthy for growing new plants. (But composting still produces methane. It just has the benefit of making something useful from the waste.) Some food waste gets sent to digesters. These machines turn it into useful biogas. That gas can become energy.

Will the EPA get involved? The agency could create new rules for landfills and food companies. These rules might help reduce trash. But experts say real change starts at home. Almost half of U.S. food waste comes from ordinary households.

How can you fight food waste?

For starters, take only the food you need. Before buying new food, see what’s left in your fridge.

But what about the food that does go bad? Instead of scraping it into the trash, try composting! Fruits, veggies, and grains make great compost. Build a compost bin in your yard. Let leftovers decompose inside. Then mix them into soil for your garden. (Just don’t add meat to your compost. Meat attracts unwanted animals!)

God created an abundant world for us to enjoy. Wasting His gifts can create problems. But God’s good story doesn’t end there. He makes things new. Food waste is just one example. It can become compost. Compost can help grow fresh food.

Want to hear something even better than that? Read Revelation 21. One day, we will see God’s new heaven and new Earth, free from sin and death.

And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” — Revelation 21:5