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Contact EPA Pacific Southwest

Pacific Southwest, Region 9

Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations

Food Recovery Challenge
Contact Information

Media Contact
David Yogi (yogi.david@epa.gov)
(415) 972-3350
Mobile: (415) 760-5419


Program Contact
Saskia VanGendt (vangendt.saskia@epa.gov )
(415) 947-4103

 

Food Recovery Challenge factsheet
Food Recovery Challenge Summary (PDF)
More Information About the Food Recovery Challenge


News Release


Universities in California, Arizona, Nevada and Guam Honored for
Committing to the Food Recovery Challenge

Nov. 15, 2012 Event at UC Berkeley
  • Tour of dining hall composting facilities
  • Demonstration of compost tracking software
  • Honor ceremony with representatives from state and federal agencies       

Who: Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator, EPA Pacific Southwest
Kyle Pogue, Division Director, State of California Materials Management and Local Assistance
Gary Wolff, Executive Director, Alameda County Waste Management Authority
Michael Laux, Associate Director, UC Berkeley Housing & Dining Services
Lisa McNeilly, Director, UC Berkeley Office of Sustainability

When: November 15, 2012

Where:  U.C. Berkeley Crossroads Dining Hall
2415 Bowditch Street, Berkeley, CA 94720 (map)   Exiting EPA (disclaimer)

In celebration of America Recycles Day, November 15, EPA will honor universities in California, Arizona, Nevada and Guam for their participation in EPA's Food Recovery Challenge, a voluntary program that aims to limit wasted excess food through donations to charity, reducing consumption, composting, and anearobic digestion.

The Food Recovery Challenge is a priority for EPA. Nationally, food waste is the single largest type of waste going to landfills and incinerators, and food production impacts water quality and soil productivity while contributing about 13 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. When excess food is disposed of in a landfill, it decomposes and becomes a significant source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. A significant amount of this excess food doesn't have to be wasted; much of it is safe, wholesome food that could potentially feed millions of Americans or be recycled into nutrient-rich soil amendment.

The Food Recovery Challenge is part of the Sustainable Materials Management Program, which seeks to reduce the environmental impact of materials through their entire life cycle, including how they are extracted, manufactured, distributed, used, reused, recycled, and disposed.

Photos


Demonstration of Lean Path compost tracking software. Food waste is weighed before it is composted to track the type and reason it is not being eaten. | Larger version


Crossroads Dining Hall sorting line, diners can compost any remaining plate waste at the end of their meal. | Larger version


Food waste dewatering and processing machine for composting. A dewatering machine removes the water to make the compost loads lighter, saving money and energy during transportation. | Larger version



EPA Regional Administrator, Jared Blumenfeld, speaks at the event | Larger version


Kitchen information regarding food waste tracking system. UC Berkeley is saving $1600 per week by purchasing less of the food that was becoming waste by using this food waste tracking system. | Larger version


UC Berkeley Chefs Being Trained to Use LeanPath Software Program | Larger version



Signs Posted in UC Berkeley Kitchen Reminding Chefs to Use LeanPath Food Tracking Program | Larger version


UC Berkeley Chef Preparing Meal for Students | Larger version


UC Berkeley Crossroads Dining Hall | Larger version


Serving Line inside UC Berkeley Crossroads Dining Hall | Larger version

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