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 # Love Food, Hate Waste

 

##### One third of the food we buy gets thrown away

 

 

 Jan 7, 2010 2:00 PM ET

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

 

 

 



              

   

 

[Love Food, Hate Waste](http://greenopolis.com/goblog/iknowtrash/love-food-hate-waste)

We all know that the best way to manage waste is to not create it in the first place. An interesting study by [WRAP](http://www.wrap.org.uk/) in April 2008 found that 1/3 of the food we buy gets thrown away. These foods—including lots of baked goods and vegetables—could have been eaten if managed properly.

I can understand this—I have admittedly thrown away slices of moldy bread and the occasional bag of slimy forgotten vegetables. I didn’t mean to waste the bread. I didn’t intend to neglect the zucchini.

WRAP understands this, too. People do not maliciously mismanage their food; they just get busy doing other things, or perhaps make poor choices on the front end. That’s why WRAP developed outreach and education tools—[like this slick website with recipes, shopping lists, and meal planning programs](http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/)—to help people buy and manage their perishable foods.

Some of their tips are just basic common sense: make a list before you go to the store. By using these tools, you save time and money, and you do not generate as much food waste.Always a punster, here are some of my ideas for pitching (and promoting) these ideas:

- Lettuce (let us) save money!
- Donut (do not) let your baked goods go bad.
- Think & ink ahead: make a shopping list.

I learned about WRAP’s study and LoveFoodHateWaste.com website when, in November 2008, I attended [an “Organic Waste Management in Urban Environments” Conference](http://meredithsorensen.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-care-about-my-waste-line-and-waist.html) in [Brussels](http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=50.85,4.35&spn=0.1,0.1&q=50.85,4.35%20%28Brussels%29&t=h "Brussels"), [Belgium](http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=50.85,4.35&spn=10.0,10.0&q=50.85,4.35%20%28Belgium%29&t=h "Belgium"). While most of the topics were on composting and food scrap collection, this presentation went straight to the source: food purchases. It made me think, “Give me your jelly donuts!”   
  
  
  
Here is the [executive summary of the study](https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=writely&passive=true&nui=1&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fviewer%3Fa%3Dv%26pid%3Dsites%26srcid%3DaWtub3d0cmFzaC5jb218aW5kZXh8Z3g6MzY2ZjRmZjE1NTcxODQxNg&followup=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fviewer%3Fa%3Dv%26pid%3Dsites%26srcid%3DaWtub3d0cmFzaC5jb218aW5kZXh8Z3g6MzY2ZjRmZjE1NTcxODQxNg).  
  
Here is the [full report of the study](https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=writely&passive=true&nui=1&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fviewer%3Fa%3Dv%26pid%3Dsites%26srcid%3DaWtub3d0cmFzaC5jb218aW5kZXh8Z3g6MzM4YzZiZDcwMmQ4MDY3Ng&followup=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fviewer%3Fa%3Dv%26pid%3Dsites%26srcid%3DaWtub3d0cmFzaC5jb218aW5kZXh8Z3g6MzM4YzZiZDcwMmQ4MDY3Ng).  
  
  
  
At your food scrap [disposal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_management "Waste management"),  
  
Meredith  
  
  
  
A side note:  
  
The English language in the [UK](http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.5,-0.116666666667&spn=10.0,10.0&q=51.5,-0.116666666667%20%28United%20Kingdom%29&t=h "United Kingdom") is a bit different from the English language in the US. “Rubbish” means “trash,” and a “[tonne](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonne)” is different than a “[ton](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ton).”

*[Greenopolis.com](http://www.greenopolis.com/) is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.*

*GREENOP3825*



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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