Dive Brief:

• An new app called Ratatouille helps reduce the volume of consumer food waste tossed into the trash.
• Ratatouille gives people within 12.5 miles of each other the ability to share food with others looking to score some produce. Participants write a description of the food, snap a photo and choose a location to meet for the exchange.
• According to Prevention, the app was created by programmers participating in a software design event, and was the result of a group decision to tackle the theme "sustainability."

Dive Insight:

Since food and other organic matter accounts for 25% of the waste stream, cities and restaurants are looking for solutions to combat food waste, although consumer awareness of the issue is low. The app, paired with the growing number of curbside food waste collection programs and more education could change this. In addition, awareness may also rise as more states address organic waste through bans.