Willful waste makes woeful want, goes a Scottish proverb. There are, in all probability, similar saying in every language in the world because thrift is virtue in all cultures, not counting the hedonist and bacchanalian among them, of course. The ready availability of essential and not-so-essential goods today have given the license to the moneyed class to indulge in the pleasure of waste. The proliferation of terms like the clichd "shop till you drop" and "shopping therapy" bear that out.

The "pleasure of waste", which for some is akin to bliss or, wittingly or otherwise, a matter of fact, is adding to the threat of food security and thus shredding the already withered social fabric the world over.

The "culture" of waste is a relatively new phenomenon in China, which is slowly turning into an urban society of compulsive consumers and waste generators. This compulsion is evident in restaurants more starkly than anywhere else, especially during Spring Festival. Thankfully, it has not escaped the eyes of conscientious citizens and the country's leadership.