Date Posted: 04/28/21
NCP Blog: The Many Costs Of Food Waste
Unfortunately, we all end up throwing out food. There are many reasons why this happens, but overall it comes with a huge cost. Not only in the amount of money wasted, but also in terms of the environment. And that’s something to really think about, since Earth Day is in April (April 22).
Food Waste – Money Impact
Here are the numbers: In the U.S., about one pound of food per person is wasted every day. This adds up to 103 million tons (81.4 billion pounds) of food waste, or between 30% to 40% of the food supply, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In terms of dollars and cents, the annual food waste in America has an approximate value of $161 billion, with the average American family of four throwing out $1,500 in wasted food per year. That’s a lot of wasted money!
Food Waste – Environmental Impact
Here’s how it impacts the environment: Food waste is the number one material in American landfills, accounting for 24.1% of all municipal solid waste, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
As food rots in a landfill, it emits methane, a greenhouse gas 28 to 36 times more potent than the carbon that comes out of passenger vehicles, according to rubicon.com. Landfills are the third-largest industrial emitter of methane, with food waste alone representing 8% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.
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