How Much Food Gets Wasted Every Year in the Midwest?

Food waste is a nationwide crisis, however it is strongly prevalent in the Midwest. While it’s difficult to get exact numbers, we can still paint a picture by examining national data and regional trends.

National Food Waste

• The United States discards nearly 60 million tons of food each year, which is roughly 120 billion pounds, almost 40% of the food supply. 

• Feeding America estimates that 92 billion pounds of food go to waste each year. This is roughly 145 billion meals and more than $473 billion worth of food.

• Historically, USDA's Economic Research Service reported that in 2010, about 133 billion pounds of food, worth around $161 billion, was wasted at retail and consumer levels alone.

Impact in the Midwest

Various food waste rankings indicate that Midwestern states like Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan generate significant volumes of wasted food, potentially millions of tons per state per year.

Why This Matters

1. Environmental Impact: Food waste is the largest makeup of landfills throughout the nation, where the food ends up producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

2. Economic Cost: Wasting food also results in the wasting of resources, water, energy, and labor, that went into producing, transporting, and preparing it.

3. Opportunity for Local Action: Several Midwestern communities are stepping up with policies, composting initiatives, and food recovery programs such as food banks and pantries. These efforts not only decrease landfill waste but also support families facing food insecurity.