Stop in Waring Commons around noon on any given weekday. Look beyond the pizza, burgers and cookies to the tray return belt and see just how much of that food is thrown out. I recently watched two students at the table next to me each throw out two plates full of food. I see this sort of behavior every day.

I recently read an interesting fact: Nearly half of all food products never get eaten. Granted, some of this waste happens before the food gets to us, but considering how much I see go in the trash every day, I can only imagine how much of this waste we contribute. Growing up on a dairy farm, it bothers me to think that half of my hard work is being thrown in the trash. Think about the time, work and energy that went into raising, processing, transporting and preparing that food. We complain about gas prices and energy costs, but it is no wonder prices are so high when we needlessly waste so much. If you have never felt any remorse for being wasteful and throwing out food, maybe it's time to start. How can we be so wasteful in the midst of an energy crisis and an economic recession, not to mention when people are starving all across the globe?

Alex Leslie

sophomore-agricultural engineering