Food Waste Goals

Dan Alabama, Environment, Florida, General, Georgia

reduce food waste people cycle sign conceptUSDA researchers will soon establish the start of what will be a long-term measuring process of how well we are doing in reducing food loss and food waste. Cathy Isom tells us about the tool researchers plan to use to figure out if Americans are really reducing food waste.


Download Audio

From: EPA

United States 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal

In the United States, EPA estimates that more food reaches landfills and incinerators than any other single material in our everyday trash, about 21 percent of the food wastewaste stream. Reducing food waste will help the United States address climate change, as 20 percent of total U.S. methane emissions come from landfills. By keeping wholesome and nutritious food in our communities and out of our landfills, we can help address the 48 million Americans that live in food insecure households.

On September 16, 2015, in alignment with Target 12.3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and EPA announced the first ever domestic goal to reduce food loss and waste by half by the year 2030. By taking action on the U.S. 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction goal (2030 FLW reduction goal), the United States can help feed the hungry, save money for families and businesses and protect the environment. Led by USDA and EPA, the federal government is seeking to work with communities, organizations and businesses along with our partners in state, tribal and local government to reduce food loss and waste by 50 percent over the next 15 years.

Read more: