Food Waste Programs Can Reduce Emissions And Feed The Hungry. Why Has Hawaii Not Enacted One?

  • by: Care2 Team
  • recipient: Hawaii State Legislature

As much as 40% of food in the United States is wasted, and this statistic is shocking for a number of reasons. First, and perhaps most importantly, millions of Americans are food insecure. Beyond that, food waste contributes massively to climate change, causing methane emissions in local landfills. Unfortunately, Hawaii has one of the highest rates of food waste per capita. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Sign now to tell legislators in Hawaii: act on climate! Implement a comprehensive composting program now! 

Food waste reduction programs are not only more efficient and better for our communities and our planets, they also tend to be wildly simple. California's recent program, for example, requires the state to reduce organic waste in landfills by 75% between 2014 and 2025. And for the average resident, that simply means having an additional bin in their home where food scraps go.

Crucially, California's program targets both residents and businesses, meaning that wasteful grocery stores and restaurants are not off the hook. In addition, the new program set a goal to donate roughly 20% of food that would otherwise go to landfills to families in need. Hawaii can and should easily develop legislation like this. In fact, a similar program might be a step towards undoing some of the massive health, income and food access disparities experienced by Native Hawaiians compared to tourists.

There is no excuse for the amount of food that is wasted in this country. Given how much time, energy, and resources go into producing food in the first place, we cannot continue down a path of throwing out such high percentages of our food into the trash, and each state must take action. It is especially devastating and wasteful to have food unnecessarily discarded in a state like Hawaii, which is forced to import such a high percentage of its food to begin with. Sign now if you agree!

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