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Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Only one state has been effective in reducing food waste through a ban, according to a recent study. State and food waste diversion advocates, however, say there's more to the story.
Plastic food packaging, especially single-use containers, is a growing problem for the food industry. According to the UN Environment Program, 460 million tons of plastic is generated each year worldwide. Almost half (46%) goes to landfills, 22% becomes litter, 17% is incinerated, and 15% is collected for recycling. However, less than 9% is actually recycled.
Reducing food waste can shrink agriculture’s environmental footprint while helping to feed the hungry and conserve resources, but since food waste occurs across all sectors of the food chain, reducing it will require coordination and funding.
