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

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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