Americans toss at least $640 worth of food every year

(Image credit: iStock)

published 24 June 2015

Americans don't particularly care about the environmental impact of wasting food, but they do care about wasting money. And waste they do: A study by the American Chemistry Council surveyed 1,000 adults and found that respondents estimated tossing out $640 worth of household food a year. The U.S. government estimates of that same number are closer to $900.

Seventy-nine percent of those surveyed said that their primary concern with wasting food was the effect on their wallet; 45 percent said they were concerned about the world's hungry; a measly 15 percent said their concern was the environment. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that up to 20 percent of landfill content is uneaten food. Here's the good news, at least: 96 percent of those surveyed say they've taken one or more steps to prevent food waste.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.