I was wondering about this recently and found a fantastic Treehugger write-up on the issue.

I highly recommend reading the article (including comments) if you want the full scope. (Also, they’re a bit biased, but the Insinkerator folks have a fairly solid video detailing what happens to food waste when it goes down a garbage disposal).

Anyway, here are the key take-aways:

1. Composting is always the preferred method to dispose of food waste. If you don’t have access to curbside composting or do not want to start & tend a compost pile in your backyard, I’d recommend trying a Naturemill.
   

   Naturemill Indoor Composter: Arul’s brother recently purchased one (good work Bhu!) and I have to say it was pretty awesome. It’s small, fits in your kitchen, and churns / oxidizes food scraps so that they heat up and break down quickly… replicating the conditions of an industrial composting facility (full post on this product coming soon).

2. If you’re unable to compost (and really most folks who can afford a Naturemill should be able to), then typically, putting food waste down a garbage disposal is your next best option. There are two main benefits from using a garbage disposal as opposed to just placing food waste in the trash, including: 1) energy savings (less trucks hauling trash to landfills) and 2) reduced food waste in landfills (some of the bio-solids that end up in Waste Water Treatment Plants, WWPTs, are turned into fertilizer).
3. Room for debate: It is important to note however that when food waste breaks down in an anaerobic environment (landfills & WWPTs are typically anaerobic environments), the food waste produces methane gas. There’s a stronger movement amongst landfills (relative to WWPTS) to re-capture that gas and prevent it from entering our atmosphere (where is it 21 times as potent as CO2). If you live in California, where methane re-capture is required for all new landfills, it may be better to have your food waste hauled to a landfill (though again – compost first).

Last night’s Viv Special was a total blast. Little Star was packed (like whoa!) and people were pumped about getting their 50% discount on the best pizza in town.

The Little Star servers and manager were thrilled with the results – they couldn’t believe how many people showed up. By 5:15 (15 minutes into the special), the tables were already packed with Vivers.

Thanks to Brokeassstuart.com, SF Eater, and AggressivePanhandler.com for spreading the word about the event! Gotta love Broke-Ass Stuart’s remarks: “Basically Viv is working to connect eco-aware consumers with like minded business by doing something or other with stickers. I think you put a sticker on your credit card or something and get deals. But really, I think all you have to do is just mention the “Viv Special” to get the treatment that all you lovely little broke-asses deserve.” Well put!

35 lucky folks picked up Viv’s CFL-flower gifts. People noted that it was a really fun way to get folks to be more eco-friendly — exactly what we were going for. (See Mary Jo preparing the gifts below)
Action item: Replace an incandescent bulb with your new CFL! (At each Viv Special, we’ll tee up an eco-action item.  Let us know if you have ideas!)  Thanks to Greenhome.com for supplying the CFLs!

If you tried to call in and order out last night, our apologies. The place was so busy, that they couldn’t answer the phones. And apologies to poor Heidi who posted sadly on our wall about the issue, concluding with “Why must everyone else love Little Star as much as me?”

If you joined up, what did you think? Any feedback? Questions? We want each event to feature a unique eco-twist – any ideas?

Want to know about upcoming Viv Specials? Yeah you do. Sign up for our newsletter here and fan us on facebook here.

Lastly, join us at Noc Noc on Friday!