EPA Food Recovery Challenge Aims to Halt Embarrassing Wastage of Food in the U.S. The US generates more than 34 million tons of food waste each year, accounting for almost 14 percent of the total municipal solid waste stream. Food waste now represents the single largest component of municipal solid waste reaching landfills and incinerators. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Food Recovery Challenge is a new initiative that challenges participants to reduce as much of their food waste as possible. Parties sign up through EPA’s Waste Wise program and then must conduct a food waste assessment within 60 days of joining. They then commit to a three-year goal for reducing the amount of food waste reaching landfills accompanied by tracking and reporting on their successes through steps such as modifying food purchasing, changing food production and handling practices, reducing excessive portion size, donations to the needy, and composting/anaerobic digestion. VIA - David Schaller of Sustainable Practices
