Amount of Food That is Wasted Gary Feinland November 4, 2015 NYSAR3 Food Recovery Workshop Cooperstown, NY

At the Top

Food Scraps and Wasted Food Food Scraps – inedible trimmings during food preparation Wasted Food – edible excess food that is not donated

How Much Food Are We Talking About NRDC estimates that 40 percent of food in the United States goes uneaten. More than 20 pounds of food per person per month.

Where Does the Lost Food Go? Farming Post-harvest and Packing Processing Distribution Retail Food Service Households

In New York State Supermarkets, restaurants, colleges, and hospitals generate 388,000 tons of wasted food and food scraps each year. If 5% percent donated to food banks and food pantries, they would see an increase of 20% of food available.

Less than 3% of Wasted Food and Food Scraps Diverted from Disposal Within NYS

Food Scraps Processing Capacity

Recent State-Wide Initiatives Food Scraps Generation Forum June 15-16, 2015, Albany Capital for A Day - Finger Lakes Region July 9, 2015 Capital for A Day – Central New York September 30, 2015

Solutions Through Partnerships Partnership between DEC, NYSERDA, Empire State Development and the NYS P2 Institute to improve energy efficiency and reduce wasted food/food scraps from large generators by offering audits and capital for improvements. Identify additional ways state agencies can work together.

Other Solutions Continue and expand current outreach efforts promoting food donation especially regarding liability concerns. Promote EPA’s FTGTW and FRC

Thank You! Gary Feinland Environmental Program Specialist II Division of Materials Management gary.feinland@dec.ny.gov