food waste

In the U.S., 30% to 40% of food is wasted. The EPA estimates that the yearly amount of carbon emissions generated by producing this wasted food is equal to that of 42 coal-fired power plants. And that doesn't even account for the methane emissions from the food as it rots in landfills. Households account for almost half of this wasted food.

A growing number of Maine groups are trying to waste less food — and when not possible, to dispose of their leftovers in better ways. While many of those recovery efforts involve composting or donating to food banks, perhaps the biggest takes a different approach: mixing the food with cow manure and microbes to make electricity.

"In our state about 97 to 99% of food waste is being landfilled. So the number one single component in our waste stream is food. So you'll not find anything in any other component part as much as you'll find food, it's 30% of our wasting," says Susanne Lee, faculty fellow at the University of Maine's Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions.

“Feeding the 5000” takes place on 10/7. “Feeding the 5000” is a global one-day-only food festival designed to educate the public on the problem of food…

How big of a problem is food waste in Maine and in the US? We’ll learn about the dimensions of the problem and get tips on wasting less and putting what…

WASHINGTON, D.C._U.S. Congress returns to work this week after a long holiday break. First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree says her top personal…

Pocantico, NY - Maine U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree announced today that she will be introducing comprehensive legislation this fall to attack a problem she…