EPA Recognizes Outstanding Food Recovery Challenge and WasteWise Program Participants

From EPA:

Release Date: 01/28/2015

CONTACT:
Christie St. Clair (Media only)
StClair.Christie@epa.gov
o: 202-564-2880

EPA Recognizes Outstanding Food Recovery Challenge and WasteWise Program Participants

Food Recovery Challenge Participants Alone Diverted 370,000 Tons of Wasted Food from Landfills

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the accomplishments of organizations and businesses participating in EPA's Food Recovery Challenge and WasteWise program for reducing their climate footprint, improving efficiency, helping communities and achieving cost savings through waste reduction. These programs save money, protect the environment and feed the hungry.

“In 2013, EPA's Food Recovery Challenge participants diverted more than 370,000 tons of wasted food from entering landfills or incinerators. Of this total, more than 36,000 tons of food was donated to feed people in need, which equates to nearly 56 million meals,” said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “I commend the efforts of our award winners and encourage others to follow their lead by joining the Food Recovery Challenge. These leaders demonstrate that protecting the environment, saving money and feeding the hungry can go hand in hand.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that wasted food costs America more than $165 billion annually and that the average family of four throws away $1,600 of food each year. The Food Recovery Challenge participants and endorsers, through innovation and hard work, have greatly reduced wasted food. Food pantries, food rescue programs, local food banks, soup kitchens and shelters are benefitting from donations of wholesome and nutritious food — helping feed people, not landfills.

EPA presented 23 awards to Food Recovery Challenge participants and endorsers in two categories: data-driven and narrative. The data-driven award recipients achieved the highest percentage of wasted food diversion and prevention. The narrative award winners excelled in areas of source reduction, leadership, innovation, education and outreach, and endorsement.

Food Recovery Challenge participants include groups such as grocers, educational institutions, sports and entertainment venues, and hospitality businesses. Participants are not only benefitting their bottom line, they are reducing hunger through innovative community partnerships.  

Today, EPA also recognized 14 WasteWise participants, which include research institutes, retailers and local governments. The WasteWise program helps organizations and businesses apply sustainable materials management practices to reduce municipal and industrial wastes.

WasteWise participants reported preventing and diverting a total of nearly 7.6 million tons of waste from being disposed in landfills or incinerators in 2013. This amount of waste diversion represents a reduction in greenhouse gases equivalent to taking more than 2.3 million passenger vehicles off the road for one year.

2014 Food Recovery Challenge Awardees:

California

• Theme Park, Facility Winner, Disneyland Resort
• Source Reduction, Winner, University of California, Irvine

Illinois

• Convention Center, Facility Winner, Savor McCormick Place West
• Other Sector, Facility Winner, MB Financial Park at Rosemont/Village of Rosemont
• Leadership, Honorable Mention, Savor…Chicago at McCormick Place
• Education and Outreach, Honorable Mention, Savor…Chicago at McCormick Place

Massachusetts

• College and University, Winner, Worcester State University
• College and University, Honorable Mention, Wellesley College

New Hampshire

• Other Sector, Facility Honorable Mention, Parkland Medical Center

New Jersey

• Grocer, Corporate Winner, Supermarkets of Cherry Hill, ShopRite
• Grocer, Facility Winner, Supermarkets of Cherry Hill, ShopRite:  Marlton Supermarkets, Inc.
• Grocer, Facility Honorable Mention, Supermarkets of Cherry Hill, ShopRite: Union Mill Road, Mt. Laurel

New York

• Sports and Entertainment Venues, Corporate Winner, National Hockey League
• Hotel, Resort & Lodging, Facility Winner, Intercontinental New York Barclay

Nevada

• Hotel, Resort & Lodging, Corporate Winner, MGM Resorts International: Las Vegas
• Hotel, Resort & Lodging, Facility Honorable Mention, MGM Resorts International: MGM Grand, Las Vegas

Ohio

• Source Reduction, Honorable Mention, Kroger’s
• Leadership, Winner, Kroger’s
• Innovation, Winner, Kroger’s
• Education and Outreach, Winner, Kroger’s

Oregon

• Endorser, Honorable Mention, LeanPath

Pennsylvania

• Endorser, Winner, Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium

Tennessee

• Sports Venue, Facility Winner, National Hockey League: Nashville Predators; Bridgestone Arena

2014 WasteWise Program Awardees:

California

• Small Business, Honorable Mention: Command Packaging
• Federal Government, Partner of the Year: Presidio Trust

Connecticut

• Non-Profit Organization, Honorable Mention: Norwalk Hospital

Florida:

• Small Business, Partner of the Year: Odebrecht USA

Illinois

• Large Business, Partner of the Year: Commonwealth Edison Company
• Local Government, Partner of the Year: City of Urbana

Indiana

• Mid-Size Business, Honorable Mention: Madison Precision Products

Maine

• College/University, Partner of the Year: University of Southern Maine

Massachusetts

• Non-Profit Organization, Partner of the Year: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

New York

• College/University, Honorable Mention: University of Rochester
• Endorser of the Year, Narrative Award: Exel Lockport

Texas

• Mid-Size Business, Partner of the Year: FRITO-LAY

Virginia

• Local Government, Honorable Mention: City of Chesapeake Garage

Wisconsin

• Very Large Business, Partner of the Year: Kohl’s Department Stores

For more information about the Food Recovery Challenge, visit:  http://www.epa.gov/foodrecoverychallenge/

For more information about the WasteWise Program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/smm/wastewise/

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