© 2024 Hawaiʻi Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Talk Shows:Listen again to your favorite talk programs on HPR-2!Local News:News features and series from HPR's award winning news departmentHPR-2 Program Schedule:find out when all your favorite programs are on the air on HPR-2! Or you can find out more from the HPR-2 detailed program listings.

Following Up: Cutting Food Waste

U.S. Department of Agriculture / Flickr
U.S. Department of Agriculture / Flickr

Last spring, HPR News reported on the state of landfills around Hawai‘i.

One issue of concern on every island is green waste—including food.  In fact, the US Agriculture Department says food waste is the single biggest contributor to municipal landfills across the country.  It’s joining with the Environmental Protection Agency and private sector partners to reduce food waste—with a specific goal.  Just last month, the federal government announced a national target:  to cut food waste in half by the year 2030.

Mathy Stanislaus is Assistant Administrator for the EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.  He says reducing food waste can lead to real progress in fighting climate change. 

  He says “We look at food waste as an opportunity to address environmental issues, social issues and economic issues—we throw away about 35 million tons of food.  21% of that winds its way into landfills resulting in that waste becoming methane—a potent greenhouse gas. And so families and food producers could really be part of the climate change solution.” The EPA is continuing to develop initiatives around the issue of food waste - and next month will co-host a “Food Recovery Summit” in Charleston, South Carolina.

Bill Dorman has been the news director at Hawaiʻi Public Radio since 2011.
Related Stories