EPA Region 7 Highlights Food-Waste Reduction Ahead of the Holidays: Kansas City Partners Recovered Nearly 25,000 Pounds of Food During the World Cup
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 7 office hosted a panel discussion in Lenexa, Kansas, on November 9, highlighting how partners in its Feed It Onward initiative across the Heartland are working together to fight food waste and support communities in need, ahead of the holiday season.
EPA's Feed It Onward initiative spotlights organizations that take surplus food to feed families, support agriculture, be composted, or power American homes and businesses, instead of ending up in a landfill. "As we kick off the holiday season and start menu planning for celebrations, EPA Region 7 is highlighting local organizations that are ensuring good food goes to people and not in the garbage," said EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy. "Our partners have diverted millions of pounds of food waste from landfills, and the impact of their innovative models continues to grow."
Panelists included Compost Collective and Urbavore Farm, Kanbe's Markets, KC Can Compost and Pete's Garden of Kansas City, Missouri; the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation of Jefferson City, Missouri; and The Outreach Program of Union, Iowa. Many of Missouri's Feed It Onward partners are working together through a nearly $5 million Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant awarded to the city of Kansas City, Missouri, which is being used in part to expand the city's organics collection program and develop partnerships with local markets to build a food rescue and waste diversion program.
During the panel, partners highlighted recent achievements associated with large regional events. During this summer's World Cup, KC Can Compost diverted more than 49,000 pounds of compostable material from Kansas City landfills, and Pete's Garden recovered close to 25,000 pounds of food that provided more than 20,000 meals to Kansas City families.
(Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：环保署第七区「Feed It Onward」座谈与会者合影。美国环保署官方照片。 / Photo: Panelists at EPA Region 7's Feed It Onward discussion. U.S. EPA photo.
