Tossed Out: Food Waste in America

Overview

Food waste is the single-largest source of waste in municipal landfills. According to the EPA, 35 billion pounds of food were thrown away in 2011. As it decomposes in landfills, the waste releases methane and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, 1 in 7 Americans struggles with hunger and the world wonders how to address the challenge of feeding 9 billion people by 2050.