CIWMB Press Room Archives

Food Waste Leaves More Than An Aftertaste: Former Senator Migden calls for better food practices

SAN FRANCISCO--An award-winning filmmaker has turned his lens on an issue that is near and dear to Californians three times a day, and a former State Senator has a vital speaking role in the film.

Former Senator Carole Migden, who serves on the California Integrated Waste Management Board, is featured in the highly acclaimed new documentary film, FOOD, INC. testifying to the California Legislature in April 2008 about food labeling and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to allow cloned meat to be sold in stores without labeling.

Migden, still a foodie, says, “People want to know if they’re eating fake food. What goes in our mouths or gets discarded uneaten creates an aftermath of concern for nutritionists and environmentalists.” While serving in the Legislature, Migden authored bills to insist upon proper labeling so California consumers could make smart, informed decisions when shopping for their families. The FDA requires no labels on cloned foods.

Migen is also a champion of San Francisco’s food scrap program, which collects more than 400 tons of food scraps and other material suitable for composting daily. “There are a lot of nutrients, as well as potential clean energy in food scraps and we need to ramp up their collection. San Francisco, and more than 3,000 restaurants, such as Mixt Greens and The Slanted Door, and other businesses participating in the City’s food waste collection program are demonstrating that this can be done effectively.”

Green waste collection programs have been implemented throughout California, but food scrap recovery is not as widespread. Food scraps account for an estimated 16 percent--nearly 6 million tons--of what ends up in landfills each year. In San Francisco, food waste collection plays a starring role in the City’s aggressive recycling efforts. The City will soon be sending virtually all of its organic waste to be turned into a nutrient-rich organic soil amendment.

Migden believes that others should follow San Francisco’s lead if we are to reach our goal of a Zero Waste California.

Check out these websites to find out what you can do to manage food scraps: www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Organics/Food/ and www.sfenvironment.org.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is the state's leading authority on recycling and waste reduction. It promotes reducing waste whenever possible, managing all materials to their highest and best use, and protecting public health and safety and the environment.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is one of six boards, departments, and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).

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Zero Waste California
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