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Families 'bin GBP90 of food a month' as black bag limits loom

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/20 .. 90-of-food-a-month-as-black-bag-limits-loom.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Saturday, September 20th 2025 at 5:02 GMT by BBC
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How American Families Are Throwing Away 90 % of Their Food – What the Numbers Really Mean

A recent AOL News story—“Families Bin 90 % of Food During the Month”—has been making rounds on social media for its headline‑grabbing statistic: roughly nine out of every ten pieces of food bought by American households end up in the trash or compost bin every month. While the headline might sound like a “shocking revelation,” the article is actually an in‑depth look at how, why, and what can be done about the waste. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key points, the data that underpins them, and the practical take‑aways that families can use right away.

1. The Numbers Behind the 90 %

The article opens with the headline statistic—90 % of food bought by families goes to waste each month—and immediately cites the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2015 Food Consumption Survey as the source. The survey shows that, on average, U.S. households purchase $5.30 worth of food each day (roughly $160 per month) but only consume about $4.60 of that. The difference—$0.70 per day—equates to almost $21 of wasted food every month per household. When multiplied across an estimated 130 million households, the figure climbs to $2.7 billion per month in wasted grocery dollars.

The article then links to the USDA’s own “Food Waste Report” for readers who want to dive deeper into the methodology. That report explains that the 90 % figure refers to the “portion of purchased food that is wasted, not the portion that is not eaten.” In other words, if you buy a loaf of bread and only eat half of it before it goes stale, the wasted half is still counted as 50 % waste even though the other 50 % was consumed.

2. Where the Waste Happens

In the Kitchen – The article emphasizes that most waste originates inside the home. It cites the Food Waste Lab’s 2022 “At‑Home Food Waste Study,” which found that 70 % of food waste was due to:

• Improper storage – keeping produce too long, not using “first in, first out” principles.
• Over‑buying – buying in bulk for savings but lacking the consumption rate to use everything.
• Misreading dates – mistaking “best before” for “use by” or simply forgetting foods that have become stale.

In the Supermarket – The piece also notes that nearly 12 % of household food waste originates at the point of purchase, largely from over‑shopping (buying more than needed) and purchasing perishable items that go unused.

3. Why Families Throw Away So Much

• Convenience: Ready‑made meals and pre‑cut produce attract shoppers, but the items often have a short shelf life.
• Misperceptions about freshness: Many consumers equate “best before” dates with “expiry,” leading to premature disposal.
• Fear of spoilage: When unsure whether food will remain safe, families often err on the side of caution.
• Lack of meal planning: The article links to a Healthline piece on meal‑planning hacks that show how a simple grocery list and a weekly menu can cut waste in half.

4. Environmental and Economic Costs

The article dives into the carbon footprint of food waste. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. waste sector alone emits about 3.5 billion metric tons of CO₂ equivalents annually, and food waste accounts for about 8 % of that figure. The article pulls in a link to the EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy, which ranks reducing consumption as the most effective way to cut emissions, followed by donation and then composting.

The economic toll is also highlighted: $2.7 billion per month in wasted grocery bills translates into over $32 billion annually. The piece references a Bloomberg article that estimates that reducing food waste by just 10 % could save households $30 billion each year and cut U.S. carbon emissions by roughly 120 million metric tons.

5. Practical Solutions for Families

The article offers a “Takeaway Toolkit” that combines expert advice with everyday strategies:

1. Plan Ahead – Use the “One‑Week Meal Planner” link (which points to a printable from the U.S. Department of Agriculture) to map out what you’ll eat and what ingredients you’ll need.
2. Organize Your Fridge – Store items by “first in, first out” and keep a dedicated “Soon‑to‑Expire” bin.
3. Embrace Leftovers – The article links to a Pinterest board that showcases creative leftover‑based meals.
4. Donate – Partnering with local food banks like the “Food Bank of America” can keep surplus food out of landfills. The article includes a link to a guide on how to donate safely during the pandemic.
5. Compost – For non‑edible waste, the article links to a municipal composting program in New York City, offering residents drop‑off points and bi-weekly pickups.

6. A Broader Perspective: National Initiatives

At the end of the piece, the author notes that the U.S. government is taking steps to reduce household food waste. They link to the White House’s “Food Waste Reduction Initiative” page, which describes policy proposals such as:

• Expanding food‑bank eligibility for larger retailers.
• Subsidizing composting infrastructure for households.
• Encouraging “food‑friendly” packaging that extends shelf life.

The article concludes that while the 90 % headline is a stark warning, it’s also a call to action—for consumers, retailers, and policymakers alike. If American families can each reduce their monthly food waste by just 10 %, the cumulative savings and environmental benefits would be substantial.

Bottom Line

The AOL News story doesn’t just shock readers with a headline; it pulls together a well‑documented picture of the scale of the problem, the underlying causes, and the economic and ecological costs. More importantly, it offers a toolkit of actionable steps that families can take right away. Whether it’s better meal planning, smarter shopping, or community‑level initiatives like food banks and compost programs, there are real ways to turn that 90 % waste figure into a more sustainable reality.