food waste + prevention

food waste facts + stats

• The USDA estimates that nearly 40% of the available food supply is wasted and sent to the landfill

• Food is the largest component in the landfill, accounting for 24% of the total

• Food waste costs the U.S. economy roughly $221 billion annually

• Food waste has increased by 50% since the 1970s

• Food waste accounts for 8-10% of global methane emissions

• The government encourages food donation by protecting food donors from liability for donations to charities made in good faith, under the "Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act" of 1996