> Destroying food is pretty cheap. you put it in the dumpster. Picking through it, sending it to a shelter, and vetting the people at the shelter seems more expensive.

But at least first lowering prices until they reach 0 seems cheaper?

> Why? Wasting food should be be free. The owner paid for it.

Because that's a vile thing to do when someone else wants to eat it, don't you think?

Giving away food is pretty cheap. You just put it on a shelf with a big "FREE" sign.