As a San Diego resident who cares about sustainability, I’m concerned by the amount of food waste generated by our city’s restaurants each night. I was recently at a local restaurant as it was closing and I noticed workers throwing an entire display case of food in the trash. I asked if this was an everyday thing and they said unfortunately yes.

Current policies prohibit restaurants from donating surplus food or repurposing it, forcing them to discard tons of edible food. This is a resource that could help address local hunger and reduce landfill waste. This wasteful approach not only contributes to environmental harm but also wastes valuable resources. It’s time for San Diego to push for updated regulations that allow restaurants to donate or responsibly manage surplus food. Contact your local representatives today to support policies that help feed our community and protect our environment.

— Alex Winski, Point Loma