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Local restaurant owner trying to solve the problem of food waste

About 80 percent of all restaurant food waste ends up in landfills. A local restaurant is trying to make a difference.

VIRGINIA BEACH — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) -- Every week Croc’s 19th Street Bistro throws out around 100 gallons of food waste. They said every single bit of it could be recycled given the proper system.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 80 percent of all restaurant food waste ends up in landfills. Food left on a plate ultimately ends up at the dump.

“A lot of education needs to happen... There really is a method to the madness of how you compost food waste,” said Croc’s owner, Laura Wood Habr.

Once in the landfill, something as innocent as a head of lettuce can take 15 years to bio-degrade. The entire time it’s breaking down, it’s creating environmentally dangerous methane gas.

Croc’s has done their part when it comes to protecting the environment. They created their own garden right behind the restaurant. However, they said in order to eliminate all food waste it needs to be taken to a compost center, but the closest one is in Waverly.

“I think it is a really regional effort to plan this methodically and carefully. I think you could have smaller pickup stations, and a central station to transport. We are doing it for recycling,” said Habr.

Restaurants aren’t alone. Grocery stores, hotels, and schools all deal with food waste every day.

“In the United States close to 40 percent of all food that gets made, gets wasted,” said Karen Forget, of Lynnhaven River Now.

Wednesday dozens of people inside the Brock Environmental Center watched the documentary 'Wasted.' The event was hosted by Lynnhaven River Now.

The movie analyzes food waste on a global scale.

After the viewing, there was a discussion on what local municipalities, businesses, and residents can do better. One suggestion was building a more centralized compost center.

“There is definitely an opportunity for Hampton Roads to get on board, and yes there are many cities doing this,” said Habr.

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