# OP-ED: Take a Bite Out of Food Waste this Earth Day

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/04/op-ed-take-a-bite-out-of-food-waste-this-earth-day/
- Published: 2016-04-23T02:50:41-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

## **_By EPA Regional Administrator Heather McTeer Toney_**

This year’s Earth Day theme, “Feed People, Not Landfills” is a powerful reminder
about the importance of preventing food waste. Did you know the average family throws
away $1,600 a year on wasted food—equating to over 400 pounds per person? In 2013,
more than 37 million tons of food waste was generated. Put another way: 31 percent
of the available food supply went uneaten.

[⌊image⌉⌊image⌉[

Everyone can help reduce the amount of food they waste, and the benefits—social,
economic and environmental—are great.

## **Wasted food is a social problem**

In 2013, 14.3 percent of U.S. households were food insecure at some time during 
the year. That is 48 million Americans, of which 16 million are children, living
in food-insecure households. Wholesome, nutritious food should feed people, not 
landfills.

## **Wasted food is an economic issue**

It is estimated that at the retail and consumer levels in the United States, [food loss and waste](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/04/new-report-shows-ways-to-help-solve-north-americas-food-loss-and-waste-problem/)
totals 161 billion dollars.

## **Wasted food is an environmental problem**

Food is the largest stream of materials in American trash. Rotting food in landfills
releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

## **So what can you do to help?**

Most people don’t realize how much food they throw away every day — from uneaten
leftovers to spoiled produce.

## **EPA’s Food: Too Good to Waste Toolkit**

([https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-too-good-waste-implementation-guide-and-toolkit](https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-too-good-waste-implementation-guide-and-toolkit))
can help you figure out how much food is going to waste in your home and what you
can do to waste less.

By making small shifts in how you shop for, prepare, and store food, you can save
time and money and keep the valuable resources used to produce and distribute food
from going to waste!

## **When you can’t prevent wasted food, divert it from landfills**

Nutritious, safe and untouched food can be donated to food banks to help those in
need. [Compost food scraps](https://greenlivingguy.com/2009/10/halloween-organic-milk-a-healthy-treat-alternative/)
rather than throwing them away.

To spread EPA’s message about the importance of this matter, I plan to observe Earth
Day this year at the Mississippi Valley State University’s campus in Itta Bena, 
Miss., close to where I was born and raised in Greenville, where I will share information
about EPA’s [Food Recovery Challenge](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/11/food-recovery-challenge-waste-cut-xanterra-parks-resorts-earns-award/).

As part of the Food Recovery Challenge, organizations pledge to improve their [sustainable food](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/05/green-living-guy-tv-segment-on-sustainable-food/)
management practices and report their results. Any business or organization can 
join as a participant or endorser. Learn more at: [https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-challenge-frc](https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-challenge-frc)

After the program at MVSU, volunteers from the local Boys & Girls Club will gather
to plant a community food garden. Gardens are a powerful driver of change in the
communities they serve because they provide access to fresh, healthy food along 
with beautiful places for residents to gather and work toward positive goals.

I encourage you to serve at an [Earth Day](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/04/go-las-brisas-ixtapa-for-earth-day/)
event in your community and start doing what you can today and every day to reduce
food waste. Small steps add up—if we all do our part.

Let’s commit ourselves, our families, and our communities to work toward a brighter
environmental future for our state, the Southeast region, the nation and the planet.

What will you do? Let us know at #NoWastedFood this #EarthDay

**Source: US Environmental Protection Agency, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, **April 22,
2016

Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook:[www.facebook.com/eparegion4](https://www.facebook.com/eparegion4)

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
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