People are trying to do what they can at state and municipal levels, she said.
But we really need national leadership on this issue.
It can be considered a form of recycling food, although its end product technically cannot be eaten.
Food waste continues to be a problem in the United States.© Kmpzzz/Shutterstock
Its really thinking about the best use of food, which is to eat it, she said.
Its not an either/or.
They have to go hand in hand, said Kakadellis.
But were skipping all these other steps and were going straight to the recycling too often.
Theres a tremendous amount of energy thats gone into producing that food, she said.
We dont do that to create compost.
You know, we do that to feed people.
For example, it replenishes soils.
And they said, no, no.
What were really trying to do is just get people to do anything on the hierarchy.
It is the easiest thing to do, said Leonard.
And its probably the safest thing to do until we have better protocols in place.
This article originally appeared inGristathttps://grist.org/food-and-agriculture/the-us-wants-cut-food-waste-in-half-were-not-even-close/.
Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.
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