Reduce Food Waste

In the United States, it is estimated that about 30% of all food is wasted. This accounts for a whopping 21% of total garbage generated in the United States. Most of the food waste produced by families is preventable, meaning that we are throwing out food that still is or was edible. In 2014 the City of Saint Paul set an overall residential waste diversion goal of 50% by 2020; we are currently at 29% diversion. For Saint Paul to reach our waste diversion goals, there must be a significant reduction in food waste generation and an increase in the amount of organic waste we capture.

To address this issue, we developed tools and informational resource following the Environmental Protection Agency's Food Too Good to Waste toolkit to assist residents in reducing preventable food waste and learn more about recycling food scraps. 

 Want to dive a little deeper into Food Waste and Waste Reduction?

This food waste infographic provides stats on food waste: Food Waste English

This seven minute video provides information on the impacts of food waste, and particularly focuses on expiration dates. Link to video 

Our recycling team put together a ten minute video on shopping thoughtfully to reduce packaging waste: Link to video

This ten minute PowerPoint presentation provides more background on the environmental and economic impacts of food waste: Link to video.

Household Food Waste 

Plan Eat Save

Throwing food out wastes money and resources. By making small shifts in how you shop for, prepare, and store food at home, you can save time and money, and keep the resources used to produce and distribute food from going to waste.

We've developed resources for you to try at home to reduce food waste and save money. These resources are designed to help you plan your meals, eat what you have, and save money by not wasting food you've purchased.

To learn more about ways to reduce waste before and during shopping visit: Smart Shopping 

For information on how to store fruits and veggies to extend their quality visit: Smart Storage

To learn ways to prep vegetables and minimize waste visit: Smart Prep

By eating what you buy you can save money for more info visit: Smart Saving

Last Edited: December 12, 2022