A food waste monitoring system and related methods are disclosed. The food waste monitoring system may include a local food waste monitoring device that is coupled to an electronic scale for weighing food waste. The monitoring device may capture and record the weight of food waste as well related information, such as the type of food wasted, the reason for the food becoming waste, the user weighing the food waste, and the type of container the food waste is weighed in. The system may also include a host device in communication with the local monitoring device that provides remote configuration and control of the local monitoring device.