Monthly Archives: February 2013

Want Something Wonky?

This week we learned that more than 80 percent of Britons are willing to buy produce of imperfect shape or color. At least that’s what they said when asked that in a poll conducted by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Note–they weren’t asked about fruits and vegetables with blemishes or bruises, but just the so-called “ugly” fruits […]

February 28, 2013 | Posted in International, Supermarket | Comments closed

China Hates Waste?

It’s never a bad thing when the world’s most populous country turns its gaze to food waste. And China is doing just that, thanks to Xi Jinping, the new Communist Party chief and the presumed next President. Xi prompted this newfound attention with a few words in response to an article on China’s rampant food waste. As […]

February 22, 2013 | Posted in History and Culture, International | Comments closed

Fine with a Fine?

In American Wasteland, I wrote about a buffet in London that charges a fee for food left uneaten and donates the proceeds to Oxfam. This editorial advocating that buffet restaurants fine patrons for uneaten food caught my eye. The idea stemmed from a seafood restaurant in Sapporo that is pretty particular about how customers eat […]

February 20, 2013 | Posted in Restaurant, Unfinished Food Charge | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

While there has long been composting activity in NYC, the Bloomberg Administration is launching a pilot program to try it on the municipal level. The pilot program will be on Staten Island, home to the massive (and closed) Fresh Kills Landfill. Let’s hope the program succeeds despite State Island Borough President’s pessimism: “I think most people […]

February 15, 2013 | Posted in Composting, Environment, Farm, Food Recovery | Comments closed

Borderlands Bienvenue

I’m in Arizona now, for a class visit and book reading at the University of Arizona, where I learned about this neat community food recovery venture. But, excitingly, this trip is also an opportunity to do some research. Thanks to the assistance of the inimitable Gary Nabhan, I will finally get to the Mexican border […]

February 12, 2013 | Posted in Personal | Comments closed

Estonia Brainstorm: Just Did It

I spent a few days last week with about 50 other sustainability thinkers and doers on snowy, secluded Muhu Island in Estonia. We were there as part of the Clean World Brainstorm, an offshoot of the Let’s Do It! organization. Why Estonia? Because that’s the home of Let’s Do It!, which got its start by […]

February 4, 2013 | Posted in Environment, Personal, Waste Stream | Comments closed