Food Waste Reduction
It is estimated that approximately one-third of all food produced worldwide is wasted. Food waste is when perfectly good, safe-to-eat food gets thrown away. It includes things like leftovers, fruits and veggies that are thrown away because they are not perfect and expired products. Resources for sustainable food waste management include:
- Reading the EPA's at-home tips—Learn about meal planning, smart shopping and strategically storing food.
- Understanding food labels and dates—Read about the difference between terms like "use by," "sell by," or "freeze by." Food labeling is voluntary for most products and primarily reflects quality, not safety (with the exception of infant formula).
- Donating uneaten, wholesome food to local food relief organizations—Help serve those in need and reduce the amount of waste that goes into the landfill.
Shop Local Farmer’s Markets
Farmer’s markets help reduce the likelihood of food waste due to the longer shelf life of locally-produced food. Find a farmer's market near you.
Avoid Food Waste During Holidays
Ways to prevent wasting food at your next holiday gathering include:
- Thinking about what you served last year and adjust accordingly.
- Using a proportion calculator to help you get your servings correct.
- Storing your food properly.
- Freezing your leftovers.
Request An Electronic Toolkit
Email rwhite@baltimorecountymd.gov to request a "Love Food, Not Waste" electronic toolkit that can provide resources for your organization to encourage food donation and antifood waste practices on social media. The toolkit includes:
- Social media campaign calendar
- Social media post
- Newsletter articles
- Recipes for leftovers
- Food waste card and refrigerator magnet
- Donation do’s and don’ts
- Shopping list guide
- Composting social media post
To have access to some of the resources quickly, download a condensed version of the "Love Food, Not Waste" toolkit until you have received the full toolkit by email.