According to a recent report from the EPA:

Methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, is emitted from landfills when organic waste decays over time under anaerobic conditions.
Municipal solid waste landfills are the third largest source of methane emissions from human activities in the United States.
Food waste comprises about 24 percent of municipal solid waste in landfills.
Due to its quick decay rate, food waste in landfills contributes to more methane emissions than any other landfilled materials.
An estimated 58 percent of the fugitive methane emissions (those released to the atmosphere) from municipal solid waste landfills are from landfilled food waste.

Happily, luckily, and gratefully, many cities and local organizations in Oregon, including Bend, Sisters, Redmond, Ashland, Corvallis, and Eugene, have started curbside services to help turn food waste into compost.

In Bend, all we need to do is collect food waste and put it in our yard waste bin. That’s it!

Here are a few links to resources for you:

Central Oregon: Republic Services Flyer on Food Waste
Corvallis: A Rind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste
Eugene: Residential Food Waste Collection
Ashland: Ashland Community Composting

Source: EPA. Lettuce Not Waste: New EPA Research Highlights Food Waste Contributions to Climate Change.

See this related EarthCare Tip.