SC is at the top for food waste in the nation. How you can make changes

• A recent study ranked South Carolina as the ninth most wasteful state in the nation, struggling with commercial, industrial, and household waste.
• Food waste in the U.S. has a significant environmental impact, generating greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 37 million cars.

Each year, Americans discard nearly 60 million tons of food, the highest amount of any country in the world.

‘While the world wastes about 2.5 billion tons of food every year, the United States discards more food than any other country in the world: nearly 60 million tons — 120 billion pounds — every year,” according to the Food Waste in America in 2026 report from Recycle Track Systems, a waste management company.

That wasted supply represents lost meals for families already facing food insecurity, according to the Food Waste in America in 2026 guide. While also filling U.S. landfills and contributing to harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Tackling this growing problem requires solutions from restaurants, grocery stores, farms, and manufacturers, where overproduction and waste are most common.

Food waste remains one of the nation’s most challenging problems, but some states, like South Carolina, have bigger problems controlling it than others.

South Carolina ranks ninth for states with the largest food waste

From state to state, the struggle against food waste reveals stark differences in efforts to conserve food.

To measure which states are falling behind, Lawn Starter analyzed food waste using 37 key metrics, and the results show South Carolina is one of the states behind the rest.

The study shows the Palmetto State ranked among the most wasteful in the nation, placing ninth overall with a score of 46.1 out of 100. South Carolina also ranked 46th in commercial and industrial waste, 43rd in household waste, 36th in recycling and 19th in reduction efforts.

How South Carolina and other states got their rating

The rankings were based on four key metrics, according to the LawnStarter study.

• Commercial and industrial food waste
• Household food waste
• Most food recycled
• Food waste reduction efforts

South Carolina food waste statistics

 In light of the Lawn Starter study, here are the food waste statistics for the Palmetto State.

• The Palmetto State recorded the highest year‑over‑year increase in farm waste of any state, with a 41% jump in farm waste volume and a 103.9% surge in surplus crops value.
• Storms in the 2024 hurricane season, including Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene, left fields damaged and unsellable crops considered waste.
• South Carolina’s food recycling rate fell 1.15% to 29.03%, retail food waste climbed 4.17%, and residential waste barely declined, dropping only 2.59%, the smallest household reduction in the country.

Reducing food waste can help save the planet

Globally, discarded food accounts for 11% of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Food Waste in America in 2026 guide.

In the United States, the impact is profound, the World Wildlife Federation states that the production of wasted food generates emissions equal to those of 37 million cars.

Experts with RTS state that if Americans continue on the same food loss path, environmental consequences could be catastrophic.

Ways to reduce food waste

In the United States and beyond, there are many ways to reduce waste, according to the Food Waste in America in 2026 guide. From improving household habits to strengthening recycling and recovery efforts.

Here are some suggested strategies to reduce waste.

Food waste recovery strategies

• Source reduction — Take only what you need
• Feed hungry people — Redirect surplus food to those in need
• Feed animals — Use safe leftovers as animal feed
• Industrial uses — Convert waste into energy or other products
• Composting — Recycle food scraps into soil nutrients
• Landfill/Incineration — Last resort disposal methods

Travis Jacque Rose is the trending news reporter for the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at trose@gannett.com.