How much of the food we bring home each week ends up in the trash? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that number is 30 to 40 percent—which prompted the U.S. government to cut that percentage in half by 2030. That’s easier said than done, though. If you live in New York City, you’ve probably noticed some conflicting signals when it comes to composting, for example—and this problem is far from unique to NYC.

Write to The Washington PostAndrew Jeong and Julie Yoon have examined how South Korea’s foray into food recycling is going. There’s good news and bad news – starting with the fact that the country recycles a whopping 98% of its food waste. (In comparison, 20% of food waste in the US is either composted or converted into energy.) But Jeong and Yoon are skeptical that South Korea’s success could be replicated elsewhere in the world.

As Jeong and Yoon point out, the South Korean system is unique for several reasons, including that it is operated at the national level rather than being left to local governments to manage. It is also worth noting that according to postAccording to one report, establishing this system did not happen overnight; rather, it took South Korea 20 years to get to this point.

A South China Morning Post An article from earlier this year about Hong Kong’s food waste recycling initiative explores some of the larger issues facing both Hong Kong and, more broadly, governments around the world. The article notes that there are no initiatives in place in Hong Kong to encourage people to recycle – and, as the postAs the report on South Korea shows, South Korea’s initiative has been successful, in part, by fining people who violate existing guidelines.

There are other issues to consider, including where food waste ultimately ends up – and whether it should be composted or turned into fuel. This is one of many dilemmas facing environmental policymakers – and a set of questions that have no easy answers.