Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
On June 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the "National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics." This initiative is part of President Biden’s comprehensive approach to addressing climate change, food security, environmental justice, and promoting a circular economy.
The strategy outlines specific goals for government partners, retailers, and consumers to prevent food loss and waste, increase recycling of organic materials, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money for households and businesses, and build healthier communities. It also aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health released in September 2022.
"Each year, too much food produced in the United States ends up in landfills instead of on dining room tables. This hurts our economy by raising the cost of food and contributing to climate pollution," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "The National Strategy we are announcing today provides a comprehensive set of actions that the Biden-Harris Administration will take to reduce waste and protect our environment while improving food security and saving money for families and businesses."
"USDA is committed to reducing food loss and waste," stated U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "This National Strategy charts a course to reduce our nation's food loss and waste by 50% by 2030."
"The FDA is committed to completing the actions outlined in the National Strategy that incentivize and encourage food loss and waste prevention," added FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf.
Recent EPA research indicates that 58% of methane emissions from landfills are due to food waste. Annually in the U.S., food loss creates greenhouse gas pollutants equivalent to emissions from 60 coal-fired power plants.
The strategy aims at preventing organic waste from reaching landfills through four main objectives: preventing both food loss and waste; increasing recycling rates for all organic waste; supporting policies that encourage these practices; developing consumer education campaigns; testing innovative approaches across supply chains; supporting organics recycling infrastructure through grants; expanding markets for recycled products.
In addition to this strategy release, nearly $200 million has been allocated through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding towards projects under programs like Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling as well as Recycling Education & Outreach grants—the largest federal investment in recycling over three decades—furthering President Biden's Justice40 Initiative aimed at benefiting disadvantaged communities.
For more information:
- Sustainable management of food
- Food: material-specific data
- EPA’s work promoting a circular economy
- USDA’s work on food loss
- FDA’s initiatives on reducing food loss
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