The Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group, released today (thursday) a report on food waste in the U.S.
Up to 40 percent of food in the U.S. is tossed out, according to the NRDC. Most of it at home. The report estimates one fifth of all agricultural water, fertilizer and cropland produceS food that ends up in the landfill.
But, JoAnne Berkenkamp, senior advocate with the NRDC,says consumer awareness has improved thanks to tight wallets.
“The average family spends between 1500 and 1800 dollars a year on food that we don’t eat. That’s a lot money,” she said.
Berkenkamp says a combination of policy, business leadership and consumer education has helped curb food waste since the NRDC’s previous report in 2012.