To tackle Connecticut’s food waste crisis, we need to make it easier for households to donate or compost unused food. Photo: Shutterstock.
Connecticut has long recognized the importance of keeping food out of the trash. Our state has led the way from piloting a food scrap composting program in the 1990s to passing a food waste prevention law in 2011. But an issue remains. Though the current law applies to large-scale generators (like resorts, supermarkets, and conference centers), it doesn’t include smaller food waste producers (in other words, you, me, and our neighbors) who throw away the most food. There’s a solution: An expanded food waste prevention law that would make it easier for Connecticut residents to compost rather than toss their trash.
The Problem
Connecticut tosses over half a million tons of food annually. That’s disheartening. Unsurprisingly,…