Food waste is a climate problem. Here’s how some Mainers are making better use of leftovers

In the U.S., 30% to 40% of food is wasted. The EPA estimates that the yearly amount of carbon emissions generated by producing this wasted food is equal to that of 42 coal-fired power plants. And that doesn’t even account for the methane emissions from the food as it rots in landfills. Households account for almost half of this wasted food.