Preventing Wasted Food
Wasted food is a much larger problem than most people are aware of.
Every year, wasted food costs billions of dollars, wastes huge amounts of natural resources, and contributes to climate change. Get the facts and see what you can do to stop wasting food and money. Did you know...
- The average family of four spends $1,600 per year on food that goes uneaten.
- 25% of all the freshwater supplies in America are used to produce food that is wasted.
- Wasted food produces 25% of America's methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
Wasted Food vs. Food Waste
Food makes up the largest material portion of the waste stream in America. It is also the least recovered portion of our waste. They may seem similar, but the difference between wasted food and food waste is important.
Wasted Food
Wasted food is avoidable. It is food that was once edible but was not eaten. Think: leftovers, moldy and expired food.
Wasted food is the focus of the Food: Too Good to Waste Challenge described below.

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Food Waste
Food waste is unavoidable. It is the part of food that was never edible. Think: egg shells, grape stems, bones, coffee grounds and peelings.
Food waste can be recycled into compost. It is also a potential source for producing biogas to fuel our vehicles.

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Take the Food: Too Good to Waste Challenge
What is the Challenge?
The Food: Too Good to Waste Challenge will show you how much edible food goes to waste in your own home and will help you to waste less. With some easy planning and light changes to your shopping, food prep, and storage habits, this challenge will help you save time and money by keeping your food out of the trash (or compost).
Sign up to take the Challenge today! Participants who enter the four-week Challenge will be entered into a drawing for one of several $50 gift cards to a local grocery store or farmer's market of their choice.
Did you participate in the Challenge and are now ready to submit your results? Enter your results electronically or mail them in by following the instructions on the Challenge worksheet.
Challenge Toolkit
Download these resources directly, or receive them as part of your Food: Too Good To Waste Challenge toolkit. These tools will help you realize and minimize the amount of edible food you are currently wasting.

To obtain your measurement container and other toolkit materials, sign up to attend a Food: Too Good To Waste workshop, or pick up a toolkit at the City of Tacoma's Recovery & Transfer Center (3510 S. Mullen St.). To schedule a time to pick up your toolkit, contact Jetta Antonakos at jantonakos@cityoftacoma.org or at (253) 502-2289. Don't delay - Challenge supplies are limited!
Attend a Workshop or Event
Interested in learning more about food waste and the Food: Too Good to Waste Challenge? Call (253) 591-5172 or email us to schedule a free presentation for your group or organization!
The City of Tacoma's EnviroHouse (3510 S. Mullen St., Tacoma) often hosts workshops related to food preservation, gardening, and compost. Check out upcoming workshops and RSVP at the EnviroHouse website.
Get SMART About Food Waste
Use these tips to get ready for your week, be more prepared and efficient when shopping, use all the fresh food you buy, and extend the shelf life of your groceries.