DID YOU KNOW?
30-40% of the U.S. food supply is wasted annually!
Here’s how it adds up:
- Restaurants: discard 22–33 billion pounds per year = approx. $162 billion per year
- Hotels, schools, hospitals: 7–11 billion pounds
- Households: Up to 76 billion pounds each year = 200-300 pounds/person = The average American spends ≈$4,000 on food (groceries + eating out) each year and discards ≈$1,500 of it.
- Retail sector (supermarkets, convenience stores): 43 billion pounds
Total: Over 75 million tons of food wasted each year in the U.S. alone! = approx. $218 billion/year
WHAT IS FOOD WASTE?
Food waste includes uneaten or unused food considered unsuitable for consumption, whether from:
- Commercial sources (farms, processing, restaurants/food services, etc.
- Consumers (kitchen/table scraps, leftovers, spoiled items, etc.)
HOW IS FOOD WASTE RECYCLED?
- Food waste is discarded into designated bins.
- Weekly pickups by specialized trucks deliver waste to recycling centers.
- Centers transform it into nutrient-rich compost within 3–4 months, perfect for gardens and farms.
WHY RECYCLE FOOD WASTE?
1. Reduce Landfill Bulk & Methane Emissions
- Food waste makes up 25% of landfill content, producing methane—a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than CO₂ over 20 years.
2. Conserve Resources
- Food waste = wasted water, energy, and labor from production to storage
3. Create Valuable By-products
- Compost regenerates soil, grows healthier plants, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
4. Promote Sustainability
- Recycling raises awareness to buy only what’s needed and reduce waste.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
- Lower trash pickup costs by reducing trash frequency.
- Eliminate odors in outdoor trash areas, especially in warm weather.
- Combat climate change by reducing methane emissions.
- Help avoid the construction of another costly landfill in NW Arkansas.
- Attract eco-conscious customers and employees who value sustainability.
- Enjoy the satisfaction of contributing to a healthier planet for future generations.
Let’s work together to reduce waste and build a more sustainable future
