Solutions from the top of the Food Recovery Hierarchy Susan Vescovi, Environmental Engineer USEPA Region 5 Vescovi.susan@epa.gov

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT (smm) Goals of SMM 1. Decrease the disposal rate through source reduction, reuse, recycling, and prevention 2. Reduce environmental impacts of materials 3. Increase socio-economic benefits 4. Increase capacity of local governments, communities, and stakeholders to implement SMM policies, practices, and incentives

Sustainable Food Management (sfm) and EPA SMM 2017-2022 Strategic Plan and SFM Action Areas Develop an infrastructure to support alternatives to landfill disposal of wasted food. Promote opportunities across the entire food life cycle to reduce wasted food from landfills, with a preference for those approaches higher up on EPA’s food recovery hierarchy Improve and standardize measurement of wasted food https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-03/documents/smm_strategic_plan_october_2015.pdf

2030 food loss and waste goal On September 16, 2015, US EPA and USDA announced the United States’ national food waste reduction goal. Reduce wasted food by 50% by 2030. https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/call-action-stakeholders-united-states-food-loss-waste-2030-reduction

What can EPA do to achieve this goal? Work with you! Businesses Institutions Communities

Call to Action- came out of the Food Recovery Summit held in Charleston 2015 Call to action: What is happening across the country? https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/call-action-stakeholders-united-states-food-loss-waste-2030-reduction

EPA Managing and transforming waste streams tool Sharing how local & tribal governments can shift their community’s solid waste stream away from disposal and towards waste reduction, materials reuse, and recovery… A planning tool for… local or regional solid waste plan updates zero waste plans community-based initiatives https://www.epa.gov/transforming-waste-tool

CASE STUDIES AND EXAMPLES Examples of communities reducing food waste and finding donation opportunities. https://www.epa.gov/transforming-waste-tool/community-implementation-examples-and-resources-1-50#48

Champions and Challenges Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions Announced Fall 2016 The founding 2030 Champions have shown exceptional leadership in the fight to reduce, recover and recycle food loss and waste, and making commitments to reduce food loss and waste in their own operations. Kellogs, General Mills, Blue Apron, Walmart, etc. Success requires action from the entire food system including the food industry, non-profits, governments and individuals. 2030 champions, making commitments to reduce food loss and waste in their own operations- private companies like Kellogs, General Mills, Blue Apron, Walmart Each 2030 Champion establishes a baseline marking where they are today and will measure and report on their progress toward the goal in a way that makes sense for their organization.

Sprouts farmers market 2030 Champion and FRC award winner (from R9 but found across the country) in multiple categories for multiple years. Goal for their stores to reach a “Zero Waste” threshold by 2020. Groceries that are not fit for sale but are edible are donated to hunger relief agencies, many associated with Feeding America Since the programs creation in 2013 sprouts has donated more than 43 million lbs of food- an estimated 35 million meals

Champions and challenges Food Recovery Challenge Through the Food Recovery Challenge, the EPA is offering a variety of methods which can assist in diverting food from landfills. We offer technical assistance, free access to a waste tracking system so that you can track from year to year, and then also track greenhouse gas emission reductions. And we also have recognition and awards. And other than that the benefits to people are, of course, cost savings, supporting communities and reducing the environmental impact that food waste has. The FRC is a FREE, simple tool. You’ll receive free technical assistance from regional EPA staff. Standardized metrics allow for easy comparison. Opportunity to learn about best management practices. Be recognized for your innovative work with food waste https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-challenge-frc

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-07/documents/washingtonschoolfoodshare5087717_a.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-08/documents/food_tips_for_k-12_schools_bold_links_508c.pdf Food Recovery tools

Thanks! Susan Vescovi vescovi.susan@epa.gov