Most of that food ends up in landfills, where it decomposes, producing greenhouse gases.

Meanwhile, 1 in 8 Americans struggle with hunger.

Basically

Americans don't consume 30-40 percent of food produced, thanks in part to a lot of

confusion about sell by labels and an obsession with perfect produce.

According to the Department of Agriculture, food is the single largest component of municipal

landfills in the United States.

The cost of all that organic waste -- from growing it to disposing of it -- is roughly

So, some states have come up with a variety of ways to tackle the problem.

Eight states offer incentives to producers and retailers that donate to food banks, hoping

that useable waste can help combat food insecurity.

Some create an addition tax credit on top of an already existing federal credit, so

smaller operations that can't afford to make regular donations will now get more money

to do just that.

Others create protections so donors don't have to worry about lawsuits over food gone

bad.

Two more states -- Maryland and Virginia -- have similar bills up for debate,

Then, there are the 5 states that are focusing on emissions, restricting the amount of food

that producers can dump in the landfill.

Maryland, New Jersey, and New York are considering similar proposals.

But these restrictions aren't all encompassing.

Four out of the 5 states restrict the amount of organic waste from the largest producers

only and three states exempt producers that are too far from recycling or composting facilities.

Finally, there's California, Oregon, and Colorado, who are using food waste to create

biofuel.

That biofuel is then used to power -- say, city vehicles in San Diego.

Clearly, these policies could reduce our reliance on oil,

and, as technology advances, the conversion process becomes faster and faster, making it

And while states try to hammer out some kinks, businesses have stepped in the mix.

Grocery manufacturers and retailers are working together to adopt standardized date labels

on packages.

And some companies are claiming the role of middleman -- collecting imperfect produce

from farms and restaurants and selling it to consumers at a discount.

There are several apps for that.

There are also apps to help donate to food pantries, and others that even

let you donate a meal when you enjoy one yourself.

For years, large farms and retailers have been at odds with environmental groups fighting

over policies like bans on plastic bags and regulation over fertilizer use.

But reducing food inefficiency?

That's something everyone can get behind.