South Korea's food waste recycling model turns leftovers into energy

South Korea has transformed its approach to food waste by recycling 98% of its scraps into compost, animal feed and renewable energy, offering lessons to other nations seeking sustainable waste management solutions.

Andrew Jeong and Julie Yoon report for The Washington Post.

In short:

The Daejeon Bioenergy Center in South Korea processes 400 tons of food waste daily, turning it into biogas that powers about 20,000 homes.
South Korea implemented strict policies 20 years ago, banning food scraps from landfills and requiring residents to separate and pay for food waste disposal.
The success of this program stems from necessity, given South Korea’s high population density and lack of landfill space.

Key quote:

“It’s one of the biggest — and dumbest — environmental problems we have today.”

— Jonathan Foley, executive director of Project Drawdown

Why this matters:

Food waste is a significant contributor to global emissions, exacerbating climate change. South Korea’s innovative model demonstrates the potential of comprehensive recycling systems in reducing food waste and generating renewable energy, inspiring other countries to adopt similar measures.

www.washingtonpost.com

Smoke billows from an industrial chimney at sunset near several homes.

Credit: Tanner Messenger/Unsplash

Judge rules EPA overstepped in cutting pollution grants

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from canceling $600 million in environmental justice grants aimed at helping underserved communities reduce pollution.

Rachel Frazin reports forThe Hill.

In short:

The grants stem from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which set aside $3 billion for environmental justice programs.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Biden had planned to distribute the $600 million through regional groups, which would fund local efforts, before the Trump EPA terminated the grants earlier this year.
Judge Adam Abelson ruled the EPA's cancellation exceeded its authority “precisely because they are ‘environmental justice’ programs."

Key quote:
The move included a “lack of any reasoned decision-making, or reasoned explanation.”

— Judge Adam Abelson, U.S. District Court

Why this matters:
Underserved communities often face the greatest environmental health risks and climate impacts. These grants were designed to help local groups respond to long-standing environmental harms and health risks, and canceling them would have cut off vital support just as cleanup efforts were beginning to gain traction. The Trump administration has also attempted to cancel a similar $20 billion program that would fund climate-friendly projects.

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