To: President Donald Trump, Governor Ralph Northam, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate

Mandate Supermarkets Donate Surplus Food

Every year, the United States throws away one-third of all the food it produces — 133 billion pounds of food. Grocery stores are responsible for tossing 10% of that food. A lack of education of both consumers and sellers on food safety and food waste has led to bad habits and wasteful selling practices.

This law would prohibit large supermarkets from throwing out unsold food, instead mandating stores to donate any surplus groceries to charities or for animal feed use.

The law should be part of a more general energy and environmental bill.

Why is this important?

I am concerned about the waste in our country. Our charities are desperate for food, our landfills are filling up at alarming rates. I'm encouraged by the French parliament's unanimous approval of this new law and think that this can be replicated all over the world.