Massachusetts stands out in efforts to reduce food waste while others fall short

A new study found that most state-level food waste bans have been ineffective, with Massachusetts as the exception due to its composting infrastructure and enforcement.

Anna Phillips reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

Massachusetts successfully reduced food waste by 7.3% from 2014-2018, while bans in other states like California and Rhode Island failed.
Factors behind Massachusetts' success include robust composting facilities, clear laws and active enforcement.
Other states struggle with noncompliance and lack the infrastructure needed to divert food from landfills.

Key quote:

“What was surprising to us is, despite the political support for these bans, and their importance, they seem to not be working as policymakers would have expected — and as they would have hoped.”

— Fiorentia Zoi Anglou, study co-author and PhD candidate at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin

Why this matters:

Food waste contributes to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. States that invest in enforcement and infrastructure, like Massachusetts, show it’s possible to reduce landfill waste and emissions effectively.

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