No one buys food with the intention of throwing it away. But according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 34 million tons of food was thrown away in 2010 in this country. In fact, food is the single largest component of waste going to landfills and incinerators.
Here in Minnesota, the average household in St. Paul wastes almost $100 worth of food every month. This is bad for our wallets — and for the environment.
Wasted food means wasted resources
The growing, processing and transportation of food uses significant amounts of chemicals, energy, water, land and money ($165 billion/year) — all lost if the food is not consumed.
There is an impact after the wasted food goes to a landfill, too. Food in a landfill is initially decomposed by aerobic bacteria, as it would be in a backyard compost pile, but after the oxygen has been depleted, the remaining waste is broken down by methane-producing anaerobic bacteria. Methane is a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide. According to the EPA, significant methane production typically begins one or two years after waste disposal in a landfill and continues for 10 to 60 years.
Read more in this 2009 study: 
The progressive increase of food waste in America and its environmental impact
With the help of an MPCA Environmental Assistance grant, Eureka Recycling developed Prevent Wasted Food. Resources include food storage tips for a wide variety of foods and practical meal planning information specifically designed to counteract food waste — saving you time and money.
Prevent Wasted Food toolkit (Eureka Recycling)Tools and tips to help you reduce food waste, including food storage tips for a wide variety of foods and practical meal planning information specifically designed to counteract food waste — saving you time and money. (Eureka Recycling)
What you can do to reduce food waste
- Plan your meals in advance and buy only what you need. More information about Buying food.
- Accept imperfection. Don't be afraid of brown spots or mushy parts that can easily be cut away.
- Store it smarter. Most vegetables keep longer in a humid environment, such as in a plastic bag or crisp drawer in the refrigerator. Here are Ten creative ways to help keep food fresh.
- Use up your leftovers. The Love Food Hate Waste website provides recipes that use small amounts of common ingredients. When searching for leftover recipes, look for ones that are flexible and allow you to use whatever vegetable is in the refrigerator.
- Freeze it. If you can't use up those veggies or leftovers right away, freeze them and use them later. Remember to label container with contents and date.
- Be prepared at restaurants. Portions at restaurants are sometimes too big for one person to eat. To avoid waste, share a main dish or bring a container for your leftovers.
- Grow your own. You'll be more likely to find a use for every bit of goodness that comes out of your own garden.
- Buy directly from local farmers. You'll get fresher food and keep your dollars local.
- Share and donate. If you have more food than you can handle, pack it up and give it away. Neighbors, friends and local food groups will be more than happy to use it up. Check out Food Rescue Program (Second Harvest Heartland).
- Compost. Rather than toss your peels and wilted leaves, compost your vegetable scraps in a backyard compost pile or worm bin.
More information
Wasted - How America is losing up to 40 percent of its food from farm to fork to landfillGetting food from the farm to our fork eats up 10 percent of the total U.S. energy budget, uses 50 percent of U.S. land, and swallows 80 percent of all freshwater consumed in the United States. Yet, 40 percent of food in the United States today goes uneaten. (Dana Gunders, Natural Resources Defense Council, Aug. 2012)
Environmental Practices Inventory - A survey of Minnesota grocersResearch into environmental practices of Minnesota grocers and food retailers, as well as resources to assist the sector in implementing programs. (2009)
Love Food Hate WasteProvides recipes that use small amounts of common ingredients. When searching for leftover recipes, look for ones that are flexible and allow you to use whatever vegetable is in the refrigerator.
Prevent Wasted FoodNew online tools to help consumers minimize or prevent food waste, including food storage tips for a wide variety of foods and practical meal planning information specifically designed to counteract food waste — saving you time and money. (Eureka Recycling)
Food - Too good to wasteStrategies and tools that have been linked to a 25% reduction in household wasted food among pilot participants. The best results come when a group or community of households work together.
U.S. Food Waste Challenge (USDA)The EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have joined forces in the U.S. Food Waste Challenge to raise awareness of the environmental, health and nutrition issues created by wasted food.
Best practices and emerging solutions toolkit (Food Waste Reduction Alliance)Guides companies through the basic steps in food waste reduction, from getting started through suggestions on identifying solutions. A joint project by Food Marketing Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association and the National Restaurant Association. (2014)
Reducing wasted food & packaging - A guide for food services and restaurants (U.S. EPA)A toolkit to help food service establishments and commercial kitchens save money by reducing wasted food and packaging with suggested strategies, templates and case studies. (2014)