EPA Finds 66 Million Tons of U.S. Food Waste Fueled 8% of Global Emissions in 2019

*TL;DR: The EPA’s 2019 data show 66 million tons of U.S. food waste, responsible for roughly 8% of global carbon emissions.

Context The United States discards more food than any other nation, with waste coming from grocery stores, restaurants, and homes. When food rots in landfills, it releases carbon dioxide and methane, two gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. The EPA’s Wasted Food Scale tracks this flow and highlights the climate impact.

Key Facts - In 2019 the EPA estimated 66 million tons of food were thrown away across retail, food‑service, and residential sectors. About 60% of that waste ended up in landfills, the largest single component of municipal solid waste. - Food waste accounts for roughly 8% of all carbon pollution worldwide, making it the biggest food‑related source of greenhouse gases. - Confusing date labels cause an additional 3 billion pounds of food—valued over $7 billion—to be discarded each year, even though the food is still safe to eat. - Landfilled food decomposes anaerobically, producing methane that is 28‑36 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 100‑year horizon.

What It Means The scale of waste means the United States is both a major emitter and a major opportunity for emissions cuts. Reducing the 66 million‑ton flow could lower national greenhouse‑gas output by a measurable margin and shrink the 24% share of landfill waste that food currently occupies. Simple actions—checking pantry inventories, planning meals, and ignoring “best‑by” dates unless safety is a concern—can keep billions of dollars of food in the supply chain.

Policy makers and businesses can target the 60% of waste that lands in landfills by expanding composting infrastructure, incentivizing donation to food banks, and clarifying labeling standards. Each ton of food diverted from a landfill prevents roughly one ton of carbon‑equivalent emissions, according to EPA calculations.

Looking Ahead Watch for federal and state initiatives that aim to tighten date‑label regulations and fund large‑scale composting programs, as these could reshape the waste‑to‑energy balance and drive down the U.S. carbon footprint.