![]() Here are 14 ways consumers can help reduce the amount of food wasted:ġ. Developing habits to save more of the food we already have will put less strain on the resources associated with producing and buying food and aid in reducing the creation of greenhouse gas emissions. (Photo by Nick Saltmarsh | Food Waste | CC License)įeeding the world will become more difficult in the future as 9 billion people are expected on the planet by 2050, compared to a world population of around 7 billion people in 2015. Food in landfills decomposes to produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates food wastes at almost 14 percent of the total municipal solid wastes in the United States in 2010, with less than 3 percent recovered and recycled. Resources used to produce uneaten food include: 30 percent of fertilizer, 31 percent of cropland, 25 percent of total fresh water consumption and 2 percent of total energy consumption. Preventing food waste saves money and resources. This amount of food waste is among the highest globally. ![]() The remaining portion is lost or wasted during food production. Discarded food in homes and foodservice accounts for 60 percent of this total food loss and is mostly avoidable. Photo adapted from Nick Saltmarsh | Food waste 3 | CC LicenseĪbout 40 percent of the United States food supply (1,500 calories/ person/day) goes uneaten.
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