Many people are uneducated about food waste and the effects that it has on the environment. Currently, a proposed federal legislation is aiming to educate citizens on the harming effects of food waste, and how to eliminate this waste all together. The statistics for food waste is at an alarming high.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) introduced the Food Recovery Act, the first-ever proposed federal legislation on food waste, in 2015. Not only is wasting food draining our food supply, with 40% wasted annually, but it also has a negative effect on the environment as a pollutant. Once food waste makes its way to the landfill, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is worse than carbon dioxide. We are definitely in need of a food waste revolution.
One of the proposed changes that may help people to stop wasting, is a change to the end date on food. Pingree states, “It should be very clear to the customer if the date is a sell-by, eat-by or throwaway date.” By labeling food with these dates, it may help people to be aware of items that are still good to eat.
Pingree believes that the children will be leading the revolution on food waste. Children were the ones that started to learn about recycling in school and then brought home what they learned and taught their parents. The same type of thing can happen here.
Will these proposed changes, our food waste will be reduced, and our environment will be better for it. Once we can embrace these changes, and listen to the children who are always ready to learn, and teach others, our planet will be on its way to a better tomorrow for everyone.
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