Consumers in the US spend approximately $200 billion a year producing over 50 million tons of food that will ultimately never be eaten, and another $10 million a year on food that is left unharvested or discarded for purely cosmetic reasons. Implementing sensible, cost-saving measures by reducing unnecessary purchasing and limiting waste in home kitchens can save the average Oregon family over $1600 dollars a year.
Preventing food waste doesn't just save your family money. Rescuing food before it goes to waste can help feed hungry families in our area. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Food Waste Reduction Hierarchy prioritizes food waste prevention and food donations over other recovering wasted food by composting or anaerobic digestion.
Limiting food waste preserves our environment by saving water, energy, and transportation costs associated with food production. The table below lists local resources that can help households reduce the amount of food they waste while helping support our community.