DNR Publishes Wisconsin Food Waste Evaluation

The Wisconsin DNR has released a Wisconsin Food Waste Evaluation report that provides key details about Wisconsin’s existing food waste generation and management.

The report includes recommendations for individuals, businesses and government agencies to reduce food waste going to landfills as part of a statewide goal by 50% by 2030, compared to 2020 levels.

Key findings of the study show the majority of the food waste going to landfills is from residential and food service sources.

The study found that wasted food and food scraps accounted for 20% of the trash sent to Wisconsin landfills. This amounts to an estimated 854,000 tons annually in Wisconsin, or 294 pounds per person.

Infrastructure for hauling food waste to destinations other than landfills, such as composting facilities, will have to expand significantly to achieve the statewide food waste reduction goal.

Of the 286 facilities licensed for composting in Wisconsin, only 30 are approved to accept food waste.

The study was funded through a U.S. EPA grant that the DNR received in 2023 to evaluate Wisconsin’s food waste landscape, develop a statewide food waste reduction plan and provide technical assistance to businesses.

The DNR will host a webinar via Microsoft Teams from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 3 to present an overview of the food waste study. Anyone interested in attending the webinar can register using the Wisconsin Food Waste Evaluation Results Webinar registration link