Many people think of food waste as a benign substance. It’s biodegradable after all, right?

But for food to compost properly, it needs light and air. In a landfill, it has neither. Instead of composting, it produces methane gas, which contributes to global warming.

Through poor portion control or buying too much food that goes bad before you use it, you can create a lot of waste. Follow these tips to help you reduce food waste, save money and protect the environment:

1. Write a list

Plan your meals for a week. Check the ingredients in your fridge and cupboards, then write a shopping list for just the extras you need.

2. Stick to the list

Take your list with you and stick to it when you’re in the store. Don’t be tempted by offers and don’t shop when you’re hungry — you’ll come back with more than you need.

3. Keep a healthy fridge

Check that the seals on your fridge are good and check the fridge temperature too. Food needs to be stored between 1 and 5 degrees Celsius for maximum freshness and longevity.

4. Don’t throw it away

Fruit that is just going soft can be made into smoothies or fruit pies. Vegetables that are starting to wilt can be made into soup.

5. Use up your leftovers

Instead of scraping leftovers into the trash, why not use them for tomorrow’s ingredients?

6. Rotate

When you buy new food from the store, bring all the older items in your cupboards and fridge to the front.

7. Serve small amounts

Serve small amounts of food with the understanding that everybody can come back for more once they’ve cleared their plate. This is especially helpful for children, who rarely estimate how much they can eat at once.

8. Buy what you need

Buy loose fruits and vegetables instead of prepacked, so that you can buy exactly the amount you need. Choose meats and cheese from a deli so that you can buy what you want.

9. Freeze

If you only eat a small amount of bread, then freeze it when you get home and take out a few slices a couple of hours before you need them. Likewise, batch cook foods so that you have meals ready for those evenings when you are too tired to cook.

10. Turn it into garden food

Set up a compost bin for fruit and vegetable peelings. In a few months you will end up with rich, valuable compost for your plants. If you have cooked food waste, then a kitchen composter (bokashi bin) will do the trick.