Food Waste In The U.S. Is Real

Be The Rescue.

FOOD WASTE IN THE UNITED STATES

More than 40% of the U.S. food supply is wasted

The EPA estimated food waste at

218.9 pounds

of food waste per person sent for disposal.

And that estimate was made 10 years ago.

Here are some things to know about food waste in the U.S.

Millions of pounds of excess food ends up in landfills

  • The USDA’s Economic Research Service estimated that approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food was wasted in 2010.
  • Instead of feeding people, the disposal of wasted food leads to more waste such as the unnecessary use of water, labor and energy to produce, process, transport, prepare, store, and dispose of discarded food.
  • In 2010, the EPA estimated food waste at 218.9 pounds of food waste per person sent for disposal.

Food in landfills contributes to climate change

Currently, food waste is contributing 6% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Source: Our World in Data

This is largely because food that ends up in landfills and decomposes releases carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), a greenhouse gas that is at least 28 times more potent than CO2. Source: Washington Post

Americans generate more food waste than any other country. We throw away 40% of our food supply, which equates to an estimated 125-160 billion pounds of food each year. Source: FoodPrint

UNUSED FOOD, OVERFLOWING LANDFILLS, AND HUNGER ARE

INEXCUSABLE

AND UNNECESSARY HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL CATASTROPHES.

Food Waste BY THE NUMBERS

Of the food wasted throughout the U.S., 42% is fresh fruits and vegetables and 26% is milk and dairy products.

A 15% reduction in food waste would not only reduce climate change, it would provide enough food for more than 25 million Americans each year.

On farms in the U.S., 20.2 billion pounds of food is wasted each year. Source: ReFED

food-rescue-workers-collecting

Learn More. Make a Difference.

foodrescue.dc_20200817_094327_0

How We Help

Chef Robbie of SuperFd and EcoCatersDC_May2020

News