The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently recognized the efforts of 18 businesses and organizations in reducing food waste throughout 2020 and 2021 as part of the agency's Food Recovery Challenge.
The EPA's Food Recovery Challenge was a voluntary program in which businesses and organizations set goals and implement strategies to reduce food waste and be recognized by the EPA. The participants find ways to reduce, donate and recycle the food they use.
“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,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said. “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.”
During 2020 and 2021, the challenge's participants prevented around 1.2 million tons of food from being taken to landfills and incinerators. Thanks to this, they also saved $61.5 million in landfill fees.
By 2030, the EPA aims to reduce food waste by 50%. To this end, the EPA hosted a Food Recovery Summit where it and the other organizations in attendance created a Call to Action for its goal of reducing food waste.
Winners include Hello Fresh, Warner Brothers and the New York Yankees. The full list of awardees can be found at epa.gov.
