AMERICANS WASTE A STAGGERING AMOUNT OF FOOD EVERY YEAR.

INSTEAD OF BEING DONATED, IT IS BEING DUMPED INTO LANDFILLS.

THAT IS HAVING A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

NEW JERSEY IS TRYING TO TEACH RESTAURANT OWNERS MORE

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES.

RAVEN SANTANA REPORTS IN THIS EDITION OF PERIL AND PROMISE.

THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

HALF THE FOOD THAT WE PRODUCE IN THE UNITED STATES GOES INTO

LANDFILLS.

THE NUMBER ONE BEST USE OF FOOD IS FOOD.

ACCORDING TO THE NINE STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 133

BILLIONS OF FOOD IS WASTED EVERY YEAR.

THE USDA SAYS AMERICANS ARE AWAKE MORE THAN 20 POUNDS OF

FOOD PER PERSON PER MONTH.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ON AVERAGE, AN AMERICAN THROWS AWAY 23% OF

EGGS AND 20% OF MILK.

IT IS NOT IN THE INTEREST OF ANYONE TO BUY $100 WORTH OF

GROCERIES AT THE STORE, EIGHT $75 WORTH OF IT AND THEN THROW

THE REST AWAY.

AND IN 2017, THEY PASSED A GOAL OF FOOD WASTE REDUCTION.

IT INCLUDES THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO GET

INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL.

WE KNOW THAT 11% OF THE NEW JERSEY POPULATION IS FOOD

INSECURE.

AND NOT ONLY IS THE FOOD WASTED, BUT ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT

WENT INTO PRODUCING THAT FOOD.

AS PART OF THE EFFORT TO ADDRESS TIME CHANGE, THE AGENCY COHOSTED

A WORKSHOP FOR THE INDUSTRY AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY TO

INTRODUCE WAYS THEY CAN BECOME MORE SUSTAINABLE.

THEY SAY PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED ABOUT

FOOD LABELS AND HAVE UNREALISTIC IDEAS ABOUT HOW LONG FOOD WILL

ACTUALLY LAST.

MOST OF THOSE LABELS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SAFETY OF

EATING THAT FOOD.

IT IS THE MANUFACTURER'S STATEMENT OF WANT THAT FOOD IS

BEST PURCHASED BY.

PEOPLE END UP THROWING OUT PERFECTLY GOOD FOOD.

ONE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO RECYCLE FOOD WASTE IS BY USING A COMPOST

BIN.

THEY CAN DISCARD ONLY FOOD AND LIQUIDS IN PAPER BAGS OR SPECIAL

BIODEGRADABLE GARBAGE BAGS SO IT CAN BE REPURPOSED INSTEAD OF

BEING SENT TO A LANDFILL WITH TRASH.

THE FOOD WASTE IN THE TRASH AND WE ARE PAYING $195 MILLION TO

THROW IT AWAY.

IN THE MEANTIME, AS IT DECOMPOSES IT RELEASES METHANE

AND THAT IS A POTENT GREENHOUSE GRASS --GAS THAT LEADS TO

CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE VISITED ONE FARM TO TABLE FARM.

IT IS A TYPE OF FERMENT PROCESS.

THEY GO IT, FERMENTED AND THE END RESULT IS FOOD FOR THE

ANIMALS AND FERTILIZER.

THE DEP SAYS THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE IS BY

PRACTICING THESE FIVE TIPS IN YOUR OWN HOME.

FIRST OF ALL, PLAN YOUR MEALS ACCORDINGLY SO YOU DON'T

OVERBUY.

ROTATE WHAT'S IN THE REFRIGERATOR SO THEY DON'T GO

BACK.

PREPARE ONLY WHAT YOU WILL EAT.

ENJOY LEFTOVERS AND IF YOU HAVE A PARTY, TRY TO SEND EXTRA FOOD

HOME WITH GAS SO IT DOES NOT GET WASTED.

IN PRINCETON I AM RAVEN SANTANA FOR NJTV NEWS.