In U.S., more food going to waste Food waste generated per person per day, in pounds
Take food waste, for instance, most of which is landfilled or incinerated rather than composted. Eight-in-ten Americans say they reduce their food waste for environmental reasons, although only 52% think doing so makes a big difference for the environment, according to the October survey. In fact, substantially reducing food waste would make a big dent in the amount of waste the U.S. produces: More than 40 million tons of food waste was generated in 2017, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, comprising 15.2% of all municipal solid waste – essentially, ordinary trash.
Overall, though, Americans haven’t had much success in reducing their food waste, according to our analysis of EPA data. In 2000, Americans generated 0.6 of a pound of food waste on average each day; that figure has crept higher ever since, reaching 0.69 of a pound in 2017.
In U.S., more food going  | to waste  | Food waste generated per  | person per day, in pounds  | 0 69  | 0.37  | 1960  | 2017  | Source: Pew Research Center analysis  | of data from the U.S Environmental  | Protection Agency.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 