Our Mission
We work with our community to develop ways to reduce food waste in Western North Carolina.
In the United States, about 30% to 40% of food is wasted. In 2018, the EPA estimated that more food ended up in landfills than any other single material.
Reducing food waste is better for our environment, but it also helps businesses and individuals save money. Diverting this wasted food from ending up in landfills can also help feed the millions of hungry people across the world.
Creating solutions to the food waste problem is a win for the environment, our economy and our community.
WNC Food Waste Solutions Working Groups
We’ve created five working groups to find community solutions to reduce food waste.
Access & Justice Working Group
- Expand food waste reduction initiatives to rural areas
- Liability protection information and education for food donations
- Tax incentives for food donations
- Education about date labeling
- Food safety for food donations
- Food waste reduction in K-12 schools
- Organic waste bans and waste recycling laws
- Food scraps to livestock programs across WNC
Restaurant & Retail
- Highlight grocery stores who are reducing and redistributing food waste to the community
- Build a list of resources for restaurants & retailers who are interested in the reduction and redistribution of food waste
- Support non-profit organizations who are leading food recovery efforts
- Compile resources to connect the community to available food that will otherwise be wasted.
- Identify challenges that limit food redistribution.
- Support non-profit organizations in our community who are leading food redistribution efforts.
Composting
- Increase the composting infrastructure in Western North Carolina.
- Increase home composting knowledge and participation
- Support the development of school composting programs
Education
- Raise awareness and educate the public about food waste
- Communicate the efforts of the other working groups and community organizations
- Create resource guides and other education materials