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Food and Climate

Did you know that reducing food waste is one of the leading solutions to climate change?

Right now is the perfect time to take climate action in your kitchen. Not only will making the most of your food save you money and keep your cupboard organized, but reducing food waste is one of the leading solutions to climate change, even bigger than composting. Here's how and why it matters!

  • When we waste food, we are wasting ALL the energy, water, and resources that went into producing that food and getting it into our kitchens.
  • Reducing food waste is one of the leading solutions to climate change, and it's something that we can all do, right now at home, and it doesn't require any technology or buying a thing. 
  • Households in the United States waste up to $1,600 worth of food each year.
  • Meanwhile, at least 1 in 4 residents in Alameda County are experiencing food insecurity.

Recent reports show:

  • In the United States, 35% of all food goes unsold or uneaten (ReFED); equating to enough food to fill the Oakland Coliseum to the top 1.5 times each day.  (American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food (and What We Can Do About It)  
  •  95% of the food we dispose of in the United States ends up in the landfill, where it emits methane and contributes to global warming. (NRDC
  • Producing food that we do not consume generates about 270 million metric tons CO2 equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions each year, the same as 58 million passenger vehicles. Reducing food waste is a social, economic, and climate imperative. (NRDC

A recent report from the EPA provides more detail on the annual environmental footprint of US Food Loss and Waste.

 

 

Reducing Food Loss and Waste by Half Can Make Big Environmental Impacts

Households are the Greatest Contributor to Food Waste 

Households make up about 37% of the total food loss and waste throughout the supply chain, according to ReFED’s 2021 report.

1 in 4 Alameda County Residents are Food Insecure

While households in the United States are wasting up to $1600 worth of food each year (NRDC), many also face ongoing food insecurity. The Alameda County Community Food Bank reports that because of COVID and the economic fallout, at least 1 in 4 residents in the county are experiencing some level of food insecurity (ACCFB).  

What can you do to make the most of your food and reduce waste? Here are some tips to help getting started: 

 

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