In this study, the biochemical methane potential tests were conducted to assess the methane yield of 12 food waste substrates which were common in North China. The 12 food substrates were digested at 35 degrees C, respectively, which were divided into 4 parts, staple food, vegetables, meat, and fruit. The results showed that the methane production changed from 318 (white radish) to 374 mL (cooked chicken) normalized by per gram volatile solid (VS) added. It can be estimated that each ton of food waste on VS produced 328 m(3) of methane in North China according to the proportion of food waste composition.