Category Archives: International

World Food Waste Study

Yesterday, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization released a very interesting report on global food waste. It contains mind-boggling new statistics, calls international attention to the issue and serves as a prelude to the SaveFood! conference next week in Germany. Here’s the key line: Roughly one third of the food produced in the world for […]

May 12, 2011 | Also posted in Stats | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Great news from the bottom of the food waste hierarchy: Waste Management has invested in a composting company. They’ve been sniffing around the idea for a while, so it’s encouraging to see them invest in it. — — Mary Baldwin College of Virginia reduced waste by 60% during their Sustainable Meal Week! Really shows how much […]

May 6, 2011 | Also posted in College, Composting, Freegan, Friday Buffet, Waste Stream | Comments closed

Britain Bids Adieu to ‘Best Before’

Environment Minister Hilary Benn hinted at it when we spoke in 2009. One minister and two years later, it looks set to happen: The British government has advised food retailers to scrap some date labels because they cause confusion, and ultimately, waste. After consulting with food makers and sellers, the government has recommended that retailers phase […]

April 19, 2011 | Also posted in Supermarket | Comments closed

Monday Buffet

In Denmark, The Veterinary and Food Administration may change a law that bans selling food past its “best-by” date. Stores would be in charge of determining how long they can sell an item. I can see this helping in some cases, and backfiring in others. Fascinating, though. — — So you’re saying porridge isn’t popular? […]

April 4, 2011 | Also posted in Composting, Institutional, School | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Walmart recently announced that their California stores have reduced what they send to the landfill by 80 percent (since 2009). Food donations, composting and anaerobic digestion all play a role there, with their stated goal of eliminating landfill waste by 2025. — — A new UK study found that household food waste accounts for 3 […]

March 25, 2011 | Also posted in Friday Buffet, Personal, Supermarket, Waste Stream | Comments closed

Road Trip!

In Jonathan Bloom news: I’m excited to be heading west for my D.I.Y. book tour next week, visiting San Francisco, Seattle and Portland. Or as I like to call it, The Compost Coast. For a full list of events, glance over at the sidebar, or visit my book site. Hope to see you somewhere! In other […]

March 4, 2011 | Also posted in Composting, Personal | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Poor New Zealand. Our thoughts are with you Kiwis after that horrible earthquake. In that context this piece on NZ food waste isn’t quite as important, but it’s interesting nonetheless… — — Cnet provides a neat snapshot of where we are with the…next wave of recycling.   — — Say it ain’t so! Lavish Indian weddings to be […]

February 25, 2011 | Also posted in Composting, Energy | Comments closed

Arrested Freegan Followup

On Friday, I linked to the story of the British woman arrested for taking what a Tesco discards. This story lends a few further details on Sacha Hall, the English woman arrested for “stealing trash. For example, she worked at a rival supermarket! We also learn that the accused the store had discarded the food […]

February 22, 2011 | Also posted in Freegan | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

English police arrested a woman who took waffles, pies and other goods thrown out by an English food retailer after the store lost power for a while. The craziest part is that the police tracked her down later at her home and took her away in handcuffs. Here’s a sensible commentary on the matter. — — […]

February 18, 2011 | Also posted in Energy, Freegan, Friday Buffet, Household | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Food’s cheapness is a major factor in why we waste so much of it. A BlogHer writer makes a compelling case that buying expensive food reduces waste both from overeating and discards. Waste comes in two forms: food disposed of in the garbage and food disposed of in the human body. When you eat beyond […]

January 28, 2011 | Also posted in College, Composting, Friday Buffet, Household | Comments closed