A new law in Vermont has created an opportunity. This law requires institutions to avoid sending lots of food waste to landfills. Now, much of the food that would have been thrown away is being donated to hungry local residents instead. In fact, food rescue was up 30% last year, while overall waste is down 56%. Volunteers check food items for quality and then re-box them before sending them off to people in need. Listen to the story to hear more about how the Universal Recycling Law has increased food donations.
Story Length: 4:05
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AIR DATE: 04/12/2016
December 2, 2014
4:09
The produce sections at grocery stores are full of fresh fruits and vegetables ready to buy. But what happens to the produce that isn’t purchased? Spotted bananas and wilted lettuce become food waste every day, whether it is in grocery stores before it is sold or in your own refrigerator afterwards. Listen to learn why 86 billion pounds of food are thrown away each year and what some stores and organizations are doing to cut down on this waste.
Read MoreNovember 13, 2014
7:47
Traditional charity models give people in need food, clothing, job training, or health care. But they don’t typically give cash. This is changing with a new charity called Give Directly, which gives money directly to recipients, no strings attached, and then lets them choose what to spend it on. This public radio story takes you to Kenya to hear how the process works and what people spend their money on.
Read MoreOctober 13, 2014
4:11
The Seattle City Council is launching a mandatory composting program to stop people from throwing food waste in the trash. Mandatory recycling has expanded from yard waste, to normal recyclables, and now to compostable food waste. With the addition of a third trash bin, the city hopes to collect 100,000 tons of food waste a year. Listen to this public radio story to hear about the motivations, logistics, and goals of the program.
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2014
5:48
On average, we throw away around 40% of our food. Sarah Ramirez, a Stanford Ph.D, decided to fight hunger by picking crops from fields and yards that would’ve been trashed. Listen to this story to learn if her efforts are successful.
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