Category Archives: International

Going Too Far Down Under?

Australian group Do Something received lots of media attention by drawing attention to Christmas food waste. Both television and print media ran stories about how food waste during the holidays harms the environment. Not surprisingly, the reaction hasn’t been that positive. As you can see here, commenters are frustrated that enviornmentalists are trying to tell them how to celebrate their Christmas. And that’s one […]

December 26, 2008 | Also posted in History and Culture | Comments closed

Stocking Stuffers

You tell ’em, Courtland Milloy: Check out any restaurant dumpster in downtown Washington or the trash cans along any street on garbage collection day, and you’re likely to find enough wasted food to fill those pantries to overflowing. — — Florida’s CBS 12 wants you to use canned vegetables to avoid waste. I’m with them […]

December 24, 2008 | Also posted in History and Culture, Household, Hunger | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

This columnist’s pantry check yields waste and a New Year’s resolution. Plus, tales of gangster donations! — — I have only one rule here at Wasted Food: When a Danish dairy producer reduces waste through a process I don’t quite understand, I link to it. — — If you’re not yet sick of me, here’s […]

December 19, 2008 | Also posted in Friday Buffet, History and Culture, Household | Comments closed

Royal Leftovers

Queen Elizabeth II is on a veritable frugal rampage. The Buckingham frugalista has not only stooped to wearing outfits more than once, but… She insists that the Buckingham Palace lights are turned off when rooms are vacated and left-overs from banquets are re-used. Like the Queen, I, too, turn off lights in vacant rooms, save […]

December 18, 2008 | Also posted in Food Recovery | Comments closed

Britain Smitten with Food Recycling

Of the UK local governments in that collect trash, about one-fourth now separate food waste for composting or other uses. Food recycling programs have really taken off in the last year and high participation rates have only helped. When food waste collection is available, two-thirds of the households participate. What does that look like? Here’s […]

December 3, 2008 | Also posted in Composting | Comments closed

Quantifying Food Recovery’s Eco Impact

Wouldn’t it be cool if you could figure out the environmental benefits of diverting food from landfills? Good news, as Australia’s FareShare has done just that. The Victoria food recovery organization recently estimated that their 2008-2009 efforts will avoid 620 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions. What does that really mean? Well, FareShare […]

December 2, 2008 | Also posted in Food Recovery, Stats | Comments closed

Monday Morning Crumbs

If you’re thinking about donating a cooked turkey, don’t add stuffing! — — I’m all for avoiding waste, but I think this Thanksgiving tip goes a bit too far: Try and cook just the right amount of food for your family and friends because nothing is worse than wasted food. There should be a bit […]

November 21, 2008 | Also posted in History and Culture, Household, Hunger | Comments closed

Imperfection Appreciated

It’s a new day for Europe’s huddled masses of non-uniform produce. Yesterday, the European Union announced it will ease shape and size restrictions on 26 fruits and vegetables, listed here. From Milan to Minsk Madrid, curvy cucumbers and asymmetrical asparagus are dancing in the streets. Whether they’re classified as imperfect, too big, too small, different […]

November 13, 2008 | Posted in International | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Who is feeding America? Not America’s Second Harvest, because they’re now called Feeding America. — — I recently interviewed Converted Organics’ CEO Ed Gildea on the company’s fancy pants composting process. They’ve just posted a video showing the first delivery of solid food waste to their New Jersey facility. — — While we’re watching videos, […]

October 31, 2008 | Also posted in Composting, Food Recovery, Friday Buffet, Household, Waste Stream | Comments closed

Squirrel Soup?

A little while back, the World Bank found that global food prices have increased 83 percent in the last three years. And then recently, the economic shit stuff hit the fan. Will rising costs and dwindling savings prompt a change in behavior? My first wish is for more wishes that the economy rebounds. Barring that, my second wish […]

October 22, 2008 | Posted in International | Comments closed