Food: Too Good to Waste!
Food is too good to waste!
We often do not realize the amount of food that is thrown away every day. In 2013 in the U.S., we disposed of over 35 million tons of spoiled and leftover food. This food ends up in landfills and produces methane and other greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
But the news is not all bad! With a little effort and planning, we can significantly cut down the amount of food waste and create economic, social and environmental benefits.
The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has created a food recovery strategy to help us do so. It includes 5 simple steps in the following order: Source reduction, feeding the hungry, feeding animals, composting and finally landfilling what cannot be used.
Food Donation FAQs / Donaciones de Comida Hechos
Click on the pyramid below for additional information from the EPA.
The process of food waste reduction is easy if we all do our part
San Diego Food Waste Recovery Guide
REDUCING FOOD WASTE
The three steps are easy: Reduction, Donation and Processing.
Reduce: The best way to cut down food waste is to reduce the volume of food disposed. This can be done by tracking where and how food is wasted, reducing the number of menu items and portion sizes, providing self-serve options, discounting products that are close to their expiration date and using proper food storage techniques.
A National Perspective on Food Waste Reduction
Donate: Donating good quality food keeps it out of the landfill and puts it on the plates of those who need it. Contact one of the organizations below or start your own food donation program. Not only are you diverting food waste, but also helping those in need. The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects food donors from civil and criminal liability should the donated product cause any harm to the recipient.
How to Donate:
USDA Food Donation Information
Food Donation Guide for Businesses in San Diego County
A Safe Food Handling for
Donation Checklist and Donation Record Form for San Diego
County
Where to Donate:
Feeding San Diego Food Donations
San Diego Food Bank - Donate Food
Donate through Gleaning Groups: You can donate the food from your backyard trees or orchard. Gleaning groups will collect the fruit and even pick it for you. One gleaning organization also collects food from restaurants and grocery stores (Senior Gleaners). Residents of the Poway/ Rancho Bernardo/ Rancho Penasquitos area are invited to donate extra backyard produce at sites set up by the Backyard Produce Project. See the site below for more about local gleaners.
San Diego Gleaners - sandiegogleaners.org
Compost: Spoiled and leftover food is perfect for composting. It provides the nutrients needed to form a balanced compost pile. Instead of sending this waste to the landfill, convert it to compost right in your own backyard! Visit the links below for additional information on composting and composting seminars in the area!
County of San Diego Composting Information
Free Composting Workshops and Information
Local Links: Visit the links below for additional local resources
San Diego Food System Alliance - Wasted Food
Prevention & Recovery Working Group
Feeding San Diego
San Diego North County Alliance
Successful Recycling Case Study - Jimbo's Naturally Grocers
Food Waste Prevention & Donation Newsletter (2018-2019)
Additional Resources from Save the Food:
Fall and Winter Produce Storage Guide
Spring and Summer Produce Storage Guide
Deciphering Date Labels on Products
"Eat Me First" Fridge Storage Sign
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