What can we do about it?

What’s the U.S. FLW reduction goal and how should we achieve it?

In 2015, USDA and EPA announced the first-ever national food waste reduction goal, calling for a 50-percent reduction by 2030. How can the nation meet this goal? Prevention and donation are the first steps. Management of food and scraps to achieve the highest beneficial use is next.

There are additional destinations for uneaten food that are not included in this visual but are also considered better alternatives than landfill or incineration. Examples include leaving crops that are ready for harvest in the field or tilling them into the soil, and waste water treatments plants with anaerobic digestion.