Oregonians Call for Solutions to Food Waste

This spring, OSPIRG canvassers went door to door across the state to build support for tackling food waste in Oregon. Over the course of thousands of conversations with Oregonians at their doorsteps, nearly 4000 Oregon residents signed petitions calling on decision makers to tackle food waste.

Oregon wastes more than 800,000 tons of food every year, and around 70% of the food Oregonians throw away could have been eaten. At the same time, hunger is on the rise in Oregon. While families go hungry, we throw away good food at staggering rates, wasting not only nourishment but also the labor, resources, and energy that went into producing it. It’s time to confront food waste through smarter policy, stronger community action, and a commitment to getting food where it belongs: on people’s plates, not in landfills.

Right now, a bill in the state legislature (HB 3018) offers Oregon leaders an opportunity to take an important step towards ending food waste by increasing composting statewide, and implementing policy solutions to keep food out of landfills. With thousands of Oregonians in support, as well as several local restaurants, food banks, student groups, and other community organizations, it’s time for our leaders to take action to end food waste.