Food waste issue is getting worse
Malaysia is facing a serious issue of food wastage on a large scale. This issue is not a new thing and it has happened many years before. Now the amount of food being thrown is increase rapidly as many years passed. Many people don't have any conscience because they throw edible food as they pleased. They regard this as a small matter and no need to raise this issue but if we calculate the total of food wastage, it's totally a huge amount. According to SWCorp Malaysia (Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation), food waste generated in Malaysia daily accounted for 16,667.5 tonnes. See this is a huge number. This habit is out of control. From Islam perspective, this wrongdoing is highlighted in Al-Quran.
إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفُورًا
the squanderers are brothers of Satan, and Satan is unthankful to his Lord.
This is a verse in Al-Quran, it shows that Islam detests the action of wasting. Muslims are refrained from doing that action. Not just food but also in other matters; water, electricity and many more. The amount of food waste could feed poverty people. According to SWCorp Malaysia, this amount could have fed 2.97 million people three times daily. We can help the poor people which is a good deed instead of throwing edible food. It's like killing two birds with one stone. We can decrease food waste and at the same time, we lessen the burden of poor people. This problem getting worse during the holy month; Ramadan. A vast amount of food was thrown. During Ramadan, every Muslim want to grab a chance doing charity to get a big reward. Every time a Muslim does a good deed, he will receive a manifold reward in this holy month. So, they will donate and distribute food for all the Muslim and people out there. Since many people give out the food, there will be a lot of leftover food consequently, they throw the edible food. In the month of Ramadan, food goes to waste over 120,000 tonnes which exceeds the number of food waste in daily months. The number of food waste will double up every festive season. This action should not happen among Muslim as we were educated from small to be thrift. But it still happens anyway.
This is a verse in Al-Quran, it shows that Islam detests the action of wasting. Muslims are refrained from doing that action. Not just food but also in other matters; water, electricity and many more. The amount of food waste could feed poverty people. According to SWCorp Malaysia, this amount could have fed 2.97 million people three times daily. We can help the poor people which is a good deed instead of throwing edible food. It's like killing two birds with one stone. We can decrease food waste and at the same time, we lessen the burden of poor people. This problem getting worse during the holy month; Ramadan. A vast amount of food was thrown. During Ramadan, every Muslim want to grab a chance doing charity to get a big reward. Every time a Muslim does a good deed, he will receive a manifold reward in this holy month. So, they will donate and distribute food for all the Muslim and people out there. Since many people give out the food, there will be a lot of leftover food consequently, they throw the edible food. In the month of Ramadan, food goes to waste over 120,000 tonnes which exceeds the number of food waste in daily months. The number of food waste will double up every festive season. This action should not happen among Muslim as we were educated from small to be thrift. But it still happens anyway.
Food waste is related to the 12th SDG which is responsible for consumption and production. By following this goal is to ensure the next generation will get enough supply. We need to sustain the yield from natural resources. Leftovers that they threw into landfills contain a considerable volume of leachate and methane gas, all of which are detrimental to the environment. This matter has become bigger not only causes wasteful attitude but also harmful to the environment that leads to pollution. Fuel consumption for food production releases a certain amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Gas, cooking oil or ingredients to cook the food has also become waste. The energy cooks and volunteers all went into vain. It's like doing something up to no purpose. Wasting time.
In term of Maqasid Shariah, we have to protect our lineage. Hence, we need to protect the earth for the next generation from destruction because of human activities. We have to be thrift when using natural resources. Every resource will be finished and come to end anyway if our generation uses it lavishly. It's better to live in modesty rather than the next generation does not have any resources left for them.
As sensible person, we should take a step to reduce this problem. We need to change people's mind. If we are in charge of distributing free food to the poor, we have to check to see if the area where we intend to deliver food has already had food distributed by an NGO or organisation in order to prevent over-distribution. While the person who receives the food should take enough food for them to satiate not for their greed. I see many people are being greedy they took food exceed their capability to finish the food. This attitude should not exist Not only that, but the volunteers also need to calculate the sum of the beneficiary to make sure there is no excessive food. Next, waste that cannot be avoided can be composted and used as fertiliser in the garden.
We need to reflect on ourselves. What is our contribution to sustain nature? Let's spread this awareness to others. Brings the greenery life.
REFERENCES:
https://ikdpm.upm.edu.my/artikel/bertan_tan_makanan_elok_dibuang-50819
https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2019/05/29/over-120000-tonnes-of-food-go-to-waste-during-ramadan-but-only-a-fraction-i/1757486
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/10/20/as-cmco-returns-so-does-food-waste/1914411
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