Food Waste Solutions

40% OF FOOD PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES IS NEVER EATEN

• U.S. households waste an estimated 76 billion pounds of food, or 238 pounds of food per person annually.
• This costs $450 per person, or $1,800 per year for a household of four.

THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST FOOD

It’s about how our food system uses a considerable amount of our resources. Wasted food translates to $218 billion lost. The financial cost of food waste is greatest for consumers since they pay retail prices for food.

Johnson County Landfill

Food is a major contributor to the waste going into area landfills. A 2016 study of landfill waste calculated that 23% of Johnson County waste is food. We want a community where people and animals are fed before landfills.

How we shop and eat makes a difference

• Households are responsible for the largest portion of all food waste
• Because it has undergone more transport, storage, and often cooking, throwing food away at the consumer level has a larger resource footprint than at any other point of the food chain.

Why Do We Waste?	What You Can Do at Home
Consumers’ lack of awareness and information Confusion over date labels Poor storage Poor planning Impulse and bulk purchases Overproduction	Shop wisely, plan meals, use shopping lists, purchase accurate quantities, and avoid impulse buys. Interpret date labels as estimates of top quality rather than end dates for safety. Prepare appropriate amounts of food and save leftovers. Freeze food before it spoils, including milk, cheese, eggs, and meat.

PREPARE what you can eat, SAVE what you don't!

Save the Food Johnson County - the Johnson County Food Policy Council (FPC) is teaming up with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Ad Council to launch their national public service campaign SAVE THE FOOD that aims to combat wasted food from its largest source - consumers - by raising awareness and changing behavior.