Food Waste "Fun" Facts

• In America, about 40% of food in total goes to waste.

• About 1.3 billion tons of food produced in the world (1/3) is wasted.

• People in rich countries waste as much food (222 million tons) as is produced in countries and areas such as sub-Saharan Africa (230 million tons).

• Not only is all this food wasted, but even the waste isn't disposed of properly-the landfill is home to over 97% of food waste.

• This 97% of food waste amounts to about 33 million tons-this is the insane amount that makes its way to landfills each year. 

   
• Food waste also makes up to 38% of the total trash in household garbage bins.

• Most people think that CO2 is very dangerous as a greenhouse gas, but in fact, methane is a lot more dangerous-and the food waste that goes to the landfill breaks down anaerobically, a process which produces methane. 

• Food waste in landfills is not only dangerous to the environment-its financially draining. Food waste cost roughly $1.3 billion to dispose of in landfills. 

• An average family loses at least $589.76 annually on food waste.

Citations:

      1.     Food Waste Fast Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved March 3, 2015, from http://www.foodwise.com.au/foodwaste/food-waste-fast-facts/

   

     2.     Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved March 3, 2015, from http://www.endfoodwastenow.org/index.php/resources/facts

     3.     Food waste in America: 430 billion pounds. (2014, February 24). Retrieved March 3, 2015, from http://www.examiner.com/article/food-waste-america-430-billion-pounds

     4.     Tackling Food Waste By Overcoming Consumer Perceptions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 3, 2015, from http://www.foodonline.com/doc/tackling-food-waste-by-overcoming-consumer-perceptions-0001