What is a significant environmental impact of food waste?

Food waste has a significant environmental impact largely due to its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. When food waste ends up in landfills, it decomposes anaerobically, causing the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is much more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. This contributes to climate change and global warming, highlighting the importance of managing food waste to mitigate its environmental effects.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the consequences of food waste. For instance, increased food availability implies a surplus rather than waste, which does not apply when discussing the negative impacts of discarded food. Improved biodiversity is generally associated with sustainable practices and conservation efforts rather than food waste, which typically harms ecosystems. Lastly, while reducing landfill space can be a goal of better waste management, food waste itself tends to contribute to landfill growth rather than reducing it, especially when not properly sorted or composted. Thus, the correct focus on the greenhouse gas emission aspect captures a critical environmental concern associated with food waste.