There may be nothing near as devastating as the amount of food wasted in developed locations. While a fair percent of the population is homeless and desperate for their next meal, nearly 40% of food purchased (in the United States) ends up being thrown in the trash. It’s an environmental, economical, and ethical conundrum that demands resolution.
But now, as shared in the LATimes, there does indeed appear to an app for that. The app called LeftoverSwap aims to help consumers reduce food waste and connect leftover givers with takers.
Here’s how it works: If you’re a giver, simply take a picture of your leftovers, name it, and upload it to the app. If you’re a taker, all you have to do is browse the leftovers near you and arrange for a pickup or delivery.
It’s weird, but it makes sense… right?
According to LeftoverSwap, we are living midst huge food waste problems: 40% of the produce we buy goes to waste, 16% of Americans lack enough food to remain healthy, 70% of the nation (US) is overweight, and 99% of affluent individuals do not need that second helping of the beef lo mein.
“LeftoverSwap solves all of these problems,” states the description on the website. “LeftoverSwappers don’t feel the need to eat an enormous restaurant portion, and instead pass it on to a hungrier neighbor, in turn learning their name and avoiding excess calories.”
The intentions behind the app are clearly noble: End world hunger by sharing with your neighbor. But the health department may have something – or a few things – to say about arranging to pick up food from an unknown source and eating it.
No specified rules have been publicly outlined yet, such as how raw proteins and fish will be handled or whether there is a maximum time frame between when the food is consumed and when it is given as a leftover, but it is currently being built and is expected to launch for the IPhone on August 30, 2015.
What do TrueActivist readers think? Would you indulge in someone’s leftovers? Share below.
