This file photo taken on Feb. 3, 2019 shows a mound of bread and other food being disposed of in the city of Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo. (Mainichi/Rei Kubo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The amount of still-edible food discarded in Japan fell for a fourth straight year in fiscal 2019 to reach a record low of an estimated 5.7 million tons as efforts to reduce waste ramped up, the government said Tuesday.

       The figure, which fell 300,000 tons from the previous year, was the smallest since comparable data became available in fiscal 2012 and came under 6 million tons for the first time, it said.

       Both households and businesses such as eateries and convenience stores reduced food waste by 150,000 tons, respectively, with households falling to 2.61 million tons and that from business operators declining to 3.09 million tons in fiscal 2019.

       "Although I cannot single out one factor for the decrease, there have been major efforts to reduce food waste as part of a national movement," Environment Minister Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi told a press conference.

       The Japanese government aims to halve the amount of food waste from fiscal 2000 to 4.89 million tons by fiscal 2030, in line with U.N. sustainable development goals.

       "It won't be easy to keep reducing waste at this pace, but I want everyone to actively join in the effort," Yamaguchi said.

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