Why it Matters
Whether it’s moldy cheese, limp celery, or long lost leftovers in the back of the fridge, chances are you’ve wasted food this week. And you’re not alone. Currently, Americans waste about 25% of all food purchases, but communities, families and individuals are working to toss less by making small shifts in how they shop, prepare, and store food.
The average family could save over $30/week ($1,600 a year) by using this toolkit. When we throw away food, we’re also wasting all the water, energy and other resources used to produce, package and transport food to our plates.
Food is wasted when we:
- Buy more than we need
- Store food incorrectly
- Throw away leftovers
- Cook too much
The US EPA has adopted the Food: Too Good to Waste toolkit. Campaigns that are successfully implemented can result in a significant reduction in preventable (edible) food waste at the household level. The magnitude of the potential reduction in preventable waste is 50% or more, or approximately a half pound per person per week. The best results come when a group or community of households use it together.
Who can use the Toolkit?
- It is designed for families and individuals to reduce wasted food at home.
- You can increase your impact by joining with your community or a group of households.
- Local governments, schools, food policy groups, and parent groups are just some of the groups who’ve used it.