As Maine works to better understand and address the complex problem of food waste, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) tapped a team of researchers, including those from University of Maine鈥檚 Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, to produce the Maine Food Loss and Waste Generation Study, a first-of-its-kind investigation that provides key Maine food waste data.
鈥淚n recognition of Maine Food Waste Awareness Week, we would encourage all Maine people to take a look at this important study to see the amount of food wasted and where it鈥檚 coming from,鈥� said Susanne Lee, study co-author and faculty fellow with the Mitchell Center. 鈥淛ust by taking a look at the quick two-page summary, it鈥檚 easy to see that Maine households are a major generator of food waste, which means that we all have a big opportunity to help reduce the waste.鈥�
Food waste leads to economic, social and environmental damage. Food waste in landfills releases greenhouse gasses, including carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrous oxide and methane. Wasting food also wastes money 鈥� not just the money spent when consumers purchase it, but the money and time put into making and managing it.聽鈥淲hen we waste food, we also waste the resources that went into producing it: growing (water, labor, fertilizer, etc.), harvesting, processing, transporting, preparing for market, storing and final disposition,鈥� said Mark King, organic management specialist at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).