The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding four local New England organizations with recognition for their work keeping wasted food out of landfills and incinerators and putting it to better use. The New England groups were among 18 businesses and organizations nationally recognized for significant achievements under EPA's Food Recovery Challenge program in 2020 and 2021.
For efforts in 2020, EPA recognized Wilton Conn. Public Schools (Newcomer category); Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, Mass; Medical Services category); and Martha's Vineyard Regional High School - Island Grown Schools (K-12 Schools category). For efforts in 2021, EPA recognized Lovin' Spoonfuls of Boston, Mass. as an Honorable Mention in both the Leadership, and the Education and Outreach categories.
"The EPA Food Recovery Challenge Award winners demonstrate how preventing food waste and diverting excess wholesome food away from landfills and to people is important for the environment and for communities," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Their accomplishments serve as excellent examples to other companies, governments, organizations and communities, particularly because food is the single largest category of waste. We have an obligation to follow the lead of our award winners, not only for the sake of 35 million food-insecure Americans, but also to prevent emissions that contribute to climate change."
The awards are part of EPA's Food Recovery Challenge (FRC). Nationally, during 2020 and 2021, FRC partners prevented about 1.2 million tons of food from entering landfills or incinerators, saving $61.5 million in avoided tipping fees, and reducing the amount of wasted food contributing to methane emissions associated with climate change.
"EPA is very pleased to recognize these New England businesses and organizations for doing excellent work preventing food waste and providing excess food to people in need," said EPA New England Acting Regional Administrator Deb Szaro. "More wasted food reaches landfills and combustion facilities than any other single material in our everyday trash. The actions undertaken by these New England organizations sets a powerful example for other businesses and institutions to save money, help feed people in need, and reduce impacts of solid waste disposal."
In 2020, EPA New England worked with 59 New England-based Food Recovery Challenge participants to reduce wasted food, by diverting nearly 44,000 tons of food for donation, animal feed, anerobic digestion, composting or as source reduction i.e. not making waste in the first place Through the FRC, EPA has worked with organizations and businesses for the past decade to set data-driven goals, implement targeted strategies to reduce wasted food in their operations, and report results to compete for recognition.
