#023 Waste Not, Want Not, Pollute Not

In the United States, there is an estimated 130 to 160 billion pounds of food that goes to waste each year, as much as 40% of our food supply. And much of this food is perfectly edible and nutritious. This wasted food cost this country about $218 billion a year. Not to mention the added strain on the environment and the use of resources that also goes to waste. 

But to be fair, there is a difference between food loss and food waste.  Food loss often occurs before we as consumers have anything to do with it.  For example food is lost on the farm, on fishing boats, in produce packing plants and in manufacturing facilities. Food waste is directly connected to the consumer. As much as 43 billion pounds of food is lost each rear at the retail level. Restaurants generate about 25 billion pounds of waste each year. However, 45 to 50% of the food waste that occurs is actually at the household level.  

In this episode you will learn about all the ways is which we routinely waste food and just how easily that can be prevented.  Not only does this make you more sustainable but it also gives you a bit more food security.  

Always live sustainably because this is how we build a better future. 

Patrick