text: Think before you trash | www.rockdalereporter.com | Rockdale Reporter
  The other day, I found myself in a situation I'm sure many of you have encountered at least once or twice in the past year—refrigerator clean out time. Of all my household chores, I may hate that one the most. Not because it can be gross, but because I feel horrible throwing away what was once good food.
  According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 1.5 pounds of food are thrown away per person, per day in the United States.
  That wasted food means wasted labor, wasted money and wasted resources— including water.
  It's always so disappointing to me knowing that I'm adding to a landfill somewhere just because I made a bit too much food or because my eyes were bigger than my stomach when I was grocery shopping that month.
  Apparently I'm not alone. According to a Wall Street Journal article, 5 million tons of food are wasted in the U. S. between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. That's enough to fill 125,000 18-wheelers.
  Did you know that in 1974, the World Food Conference called for a 50 percent waste reduction by 1984? That goal was not met.
  So in the spirit of a new year with new resolutions, I've decided that I'm going to do my part and waste less food in 2013. I'm going to buy only things I know I'll eat at the grocery store and cook smaller meals to reduce the amount of leftovers that get tossed every week.
  Think of the impact we could have if only a few hundred other people decide to also reduce their food waste each year.