According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an estimated 34 metric tons of methane, a greenhouse gas, are released into the atmosphere for every 1,000 tons of landfilled food waste.

It has also been reported that if food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the World.

Scottsdale city councilwoman Solange Whitehead is spearheading a citywide effort to reduce or eliminate food waste in our landfills.

As part of Scottsdale’s food waste diversion education effort, she will be sponsoring two showings of the documentary film “Kiss the Ground” on Feb. 8 at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. at Scottsdale Community College, 9000 E Chaparral Rd, Scottsdale, Ariz.

The film focuses on the concept of not only stopping, but reversing climate change by regenerating the Earth’s soil.  It seeks to show how practices like composting and crop rotation that eliminate methane production in landfills and store carbon in plants and their root systems can combat climate change through soil-based carbon capture.

Councilwomen Whitehead and Betty Janik will represent the city of Scottsdale.  In addition,  J.D. Hill of Recycled City will all be available to answer questions about composting and other sustainable practices along with offering more information about Recycled City’s services following each viewing.

According to their website, Recycled City offers subscribers a variety of composting options.  Picking up food waste and other compostable items for residents, businesses and restaurants as well as a unique, full-circle service called “Farm Boxes”, where organic produce that is grown with the compost made from subscriber’s food waste is available for sale back to the customer depending on their type of subscription.

Whitehead told Northeast Valley News that by diverting food waste out of landfills by composting at home or signing up for pick-up services like Recycled City offers, we can all make a difference in the environment.

“Rising temperatures…the drought…these leave us feeling hopeless, but, really, there’s things that we all do locally that absolutely are having an impact.  And over time that impact will grow and grow and grow,” Whitehead said.

In addition to the film screening and Q&A session at room LC-383, directly across from the Writing Center, there will be two tours of SCC’s Center for Native and Urban Wildlife (CNUW).

CNUW education and outreach manager Natalie Case explained why they are involved in the event.

“Because CNUW is so focused on preserving and protecting our desert, any practice that is more sustainable and more gentle on our lands is something that we try to support,” Case said.

Those interested in attending one of the screenings and associated Q&A sessions should RSVP as seating is somewhat limited.