Every single year, Americans throw away millions of tons of food, which is enough food to fill entire stadiums. Meanwhile, millions of families across the country are struggling to afford groceries. Food waste isn’t just a social problem, it is also a serious environmental problem that goes unnoticed. When uneaten food ends up in landfills, it breaks down and releases methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas that plays a big factor in climate change. Reducing food waste is one of the simplest and most realistic ways that everyone can take to create a real difference for our communities and the planet.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, nearly 40 percent of all food in the United States is wasted each year. Grocery stores throw away edible food if it doesn’t look “perfect.” At home, people tend to overbuy food, forget about leftovers in the fridge, and let food expire without eating it. One mother of a Coronado student said, “With all the meals I cook at home, I admit that I can be a bit wasteful with edible food and leftovers sometimes.”

On the positive side, solving this problem doesn’t require major sacrifice and has easy solutions. Families can make a change by planning meals more carefully, saving their leftovers, and composting what they can’t eat. Restaurants and schools can donate extra food instead of throwing it away. Harrison Aker, Class of 2026, says, “Reducing food waste is one of the fastest, cheapest ways to help the environment and people in need.” This is a problem that can be solved today with a little effort.

If everyone just made small but intentional choices in how they shop, cook, and eat, people could heavily cut down on waste, effectively fight hunger, and help the environment all at once. The power to make a difference does not start with the government or big companies, it can start with individuals forming small habits of small choices.