This morning I read that the average American wastes 1,400 calories of food each and every day. Then I learned this equates to enough food to feed 200 million people. Are. You. Serious?

While it is known that American’s enjoy indulging (myself included) in fine foods, fast foods, desserts, and more, it seems we are missing a step by ending the cycle once we have eaten. There has been increasing innovation focused on methods of energy usage; how we capture and utilize new forms of energy, and further, reclaiming excess and wasted energy. Americans are innovators and I am convinced wise and effective uses for our wasted food can be found.

One solution I propose is creation of composting requirements in urban and suburban areas. Differences would clearly exist between these two environments, but the ease of implementation increases the appeal to municipalities and citizens. Standards in urban areas would be adapted to the close-knit layout of apartments and condos. The application would focus on use of compost for existing and desired green spaces in urban settings. Suburban households and restaurants would receive tax breaks for composting efforts and here is how: Food is heavy and removing it from our trash would lessen the needed frequency of trash pickup, lighten the weight of the loads and decrease spending on trash removal. Much as citizens in suburban communities may be required to buy their trash cans, they could be prompted to create a compost area on their property and be underway in no time.

Milwaukee has an example of an urban composting effort in the basement of the Urban Ecology Center (No, it doesn’t smell. Yes, I’m being honest.) Their efforts show feasibility. With further creativity, entire apartment and condo complexes could be transitioned to these suggested practices, or at least a form of such, in a short timeframe.

My solution doesn’t even touch on a transition from excess food being conserved or reused for feeding more mouths, but that is where you come in. What ideas do you have for new practices? Can you implement them, even if it is just for you initiallz? Can you influence your family, neighbors, friends? Show us.