WASTE MANAGEMENT
Food waste IS an issue that ’ s both pressing and easy to ignore .
Each day , we ’ re confronted with food items to assess and make decisions on whether to keep or dispose of .
Does that cheese smell funkier than usual ? Is this bread stale ? Are these bananas just a little too brown ?
It makes sense to throw food away when it ’ s necessary ; you don ’ t want to eat something that ’ s going to do you harm . Far too often , however , perfectly edible food is thrown away . In the U . S . alone , 90 percent of Americans throw food away because of their misinterpretation of expiration dates . According to a study conducted by Harvard Law School ’ s Food Law and Policy Clinic and the Natural Resources Defense Council , a nonprofit environmental action group , Americans are throwing out nearly $ 165 billion in wasted food each year .
This is also a huge problem in the U . K . 7.2 million tons of food and drink are disposed of annually , much of which is perfectly safe for consumption . It ’ s costing the U . K . € 12 billion a year and shows no signs of slowing .
While the numbers detailing this
‘ In the U . S . alone , 90 percent of Americans throw food away because of their misinterpretation of expiration dates ’
34 September 2014