Save money and help the environment by preventing wasted food

Approximately 40 percent of all food in the U.S. goes uneaten, leading to significant waste and environmental issues. Each year, Minneapolis alone throws away nearly 128,000 tons of food.

To highlight the importance of preventing wasted food, the City is celebrating National Food Waste Prevention Week, April 7-13. This week aims to raise awareness and encourage community members to take action against food waste.

"Buy what you'll eat. Eat what you buy. Don't throw your money away," said Alison Babb, Minneapolis Health Department Homegrown manager.

Prevent wasted food at home
Families can save money and help the environment by limiting food waste at home. Take steps to prevent wasted food:

Learn about preventing wasted food at home

Learn more ways to prevent wasted food

Food for thought

• The average family of four wastes more than $2,500 a year on food that goes uneaten.
• 70% of wasted food at a restaurant is from customers not finishing their plates.
• On average, every person in Hennepin County wastes about 97 meals a year.
• The amount of food we waste is like buying five bags of food at the grocery store and leaving two behind.
• Each year, wasted food in the U.S. produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all the cars in California, Texas, Florida, and New York combined.

City committed to reducing wasted food
The City of Minneapolis is committed to preventing wasted food:

• The Minneapolis Climate Equity Plan has a goal to recycle and compost 80% of citywide waste by 2030.
• The Minneapolis Food Vision has strategies to prevent and divert wasted food.

Helping restaurants prevent wasted food

Restaurant employees can find resources, including educational videos, on the City's Prevent Wasted Food page to help reduce wasted food.

• Minneapolis restaurants create 35,000 tons of food waste each year, which is 30% of the city's food waste.
• Minneapolis restaurants can help through simple kitchen changes, donating to food shelves, and composting.
• 18% of Minneapolis residents don't have access to enough food or affordable food. Donating food saves businesses money through tax breaks and helps the community and the environment.

The videos include:

**All videos are in English, Spanish and Somali

Follow the Minneapolis Health Department

Stay updated during Food Waste Prevention Week by following the Health Department's social channels.

Visit our website for public health resources.