The Growing Amount of Food Waste In America And What It Means To The Environment

Food waste is a very serious issue not just in America, but throughout the globe as well. Every year over 1.4 billion tons of food is wasted around the world. The United States plays a significant part of this total, discarding 40 million tons of food waste every year. This not only accounts for over 30% of our nation’s entire food supply, it also makes the United States the leading contributor of food waste in the world today. Interestingly, food waste is the single largest component in landfills across America. Worse, food waste also has a big effect on our nation’s environment. Methane, which emanates from food waste in landfills, is an even more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. The United States currently ranks as the second-highest gas emitter in the world today behind only China. The effects of greenhouse gas also play a significant role in climate change.

Confusion over the expiration dates on food labels is one of the leading causes of food waste today in the United States. It is estimated that 80% of Americans discard perfectly safe food due to misunderstanding the labels on food packages. Food labels stating “best before,” “best by,” “sell by,” “use by” and “expires on” are confusing to many Americans, who would rather risk the chance of taking a monetary loss than experience an illness due to food contamination.

Supermarkets and food stores are also responsible for a good portion of the food waste in our landfills. Worse, this food waste also comes in containers and packaging, creating a far more serious situation and culminating in more landfill waste. Many states across the country are now taking action to curb food waste in our landfills, passing laws that restrict the amount of food waste going to landfills and in some cases banning food scrap waste entirely. In addition, many cities around the nation have created task forces to help alleviate this issue.

Transforming food waste into energy is another alternative. According to an article in Waste Today, Vanguard Renewables in Massachusetts is transforming food waste into renewable energy to power homes, businesses and communities. The company has placed an emphasis on recycling organic waste that would have previously found its way into landfills. The advanced process is also designed to de-package expired food, along with unsafe to eat food and beverage products.

At Waste Cost Solutions we understand the importance of food waste management. Our expert facilities team is here to assist you with solutions to this matter. Whether you need assistance with food waste or pressure washing your outside exterior, Waste Cost Solutions is here to help you every step of the way. Contact us at 809-509-5399 or email us at accounting@WasteCostSolutions.com