Ending Food Waste
Last updated
Last updated
Americans waste nearly 40 percent of the food we produce.
1 in 6 Americans does not know where there next meal is coming from.
This mission is two-fold: to save perfectly good food that would otherwise be destined for landfills and to support humans that are currently food insecure. There’s never been a more urgent time to help our local communities.
Wasted food is the largest component sent to landfills in the United States. Once in landfills, the food waste decays into methane, a powerful greenhouse gas which has been linked to climate change.
Twenty years ago, South Korea was discarding 98% of its food waste. Today South Korea recycles 98% of its food waste by turning it into compost, animal feed, or energy.
How?
They banned food scraps from landfills and required everyone to separate food waste from other trash. Citizens pay for the service through fees and fines. South Korea’s system isn’t perfect, though. Sorting food waste is complex: while eggs, chicken, and onions can be composted, their shells, bones, and roots can’t. Farmers are hesitant to use waste-based feed for livestock or fertilizer due to the smell and excess sodium. Overall the Korean's are leading the globe in responsible food waste management.
The Feed it Forward Free Food App builds stronger communities and healthier individuals by allowing users to share food instead of discarding it.
It does this by creating a space where pictures of free food, along with information detailing the type and quantity of the food, can be uploaded, making the food accessible to anyone else using the app. Once the food is uploaded it is featured on a pinging map displaying the portions and types of food available, along with the time and locations it can be picked up.
This app is revolutionary for those living within communities in need as it means they will not have to worry if they can afford their next meal. It will also revolutionize the local food industry, which is already struggling right now, by allowing restaurants, markets, and farmers to create new customers by supplying them with free food that would otherwise be wasted.
There is an additional feature that serves as a carbon footprint calculator which calculates the carbon emissions saved from the atmosphere when each accepted product is diverted from landfills. This app works towards replacing food insecurity with food accessibility by feeding the world and not its landfills. Feed it Forward Free Food App presents a better future for all of us by making food waste a thing of the past.
Introduction
Food waste is a significant issue in the United States, with an estimated 30-40% of the food supply going uneaten each year. At the same time, millions of Americans face food insecurity.
To address these challenges, we propose a two-fold solution utilizing a dedicated app to manage food waste more effectively.
This solution aims to encourage both businesses and consumers to redirect surplus food and reduce environmental impact.
Local governments could mandfate that food kitchens in all American cities divert food waste to homeless shelters, food pantries, or composting programs
Objectives
Reduce Food Waste: Minimize the amount of food that ends up in landfills by ensuring that surplus food is redirected to those in need or composted.
Address Food Insecurity: Provide a reliable source of food to homeless shelters and food pantries, improving access to nutritious meals for vulnerable populations.
Promote Environmental Sustainability: Encourage composting of non-edible food waste to support waste reduction and soil health.
Edible Food Redistribution Program
To tackle the issue of edible food waste, we propose the development of an app that facilitates the scheduling of food pickups from businesses and consumers. The app will connect surplus food to local food banks, shelters, and kitchens serving the homeless population. Key features of the program include:
Business and Consumer Participation: Businesses and consumers can use the app to schedule pickups for surplus edible food.
Incentives: To encourage participation, offer a small tax break for businesses that regularly donate food through the app, helping offset waste management costs.
Efficient Logistics: The app will coordinate with local food banks and kitchens to ensure timely and efficient redistribution of surplus food.
Inedible Food Composting Program
For non-edible food waste, the app will also facilitate the diversion of waste to local composting programs. This aspect of the solution will involve:
Partnerships with Waste Management and Farming Communities: Connect with waste management companies and farmers who run composting programs to handle inedible food waste.
Seamless Integration: Users can schedule pickups for non-edible waste through the app, which will interface with composting facilities or interested farmers.
Environmental Benefits: This program aims to reduce landfill waste and support local composting efforts, enhancing soil health and promoting sustainability.
Infrastructure Support
a. Non-Profit Partnerships: Encourage non-profit organizations to develop and manage infrastructure for food redistribution and composting. This may include:
Food Rescue Programs: Establishing networks to collect and distribute surplus food to shelters and pantries.
Composting Facilities: Creating or expanding composting programs to process non-edible food waste.
b. Grants and Incentives: Provide financial support and incentives for non-profits and businesses that invest in food rescue and composting infrastructure. This can include grants, tax breaks, or low-interest loans.
Training and Resources
a. Education Programs: Develop training programs for food kitchen staff on best practices for food waste diversion, including proper handling, storage, and distribution of surplus food.
b. Resource Guides: Create and distribute guides outlining the procedures for food diversion and composting, including local regulations, available resources, and contact information for non-profits and composting services.
Enforcement and Compliance
a. Regulatory Framework: Implement local regulations that mandate compliance with the food waste diversion policy. This may involve periodic inspections and audits to ensure adherence to the policy.
b. Penalties for Non-Compliance: Establish a system of penalties for food kitchens that fail to comply with diversion requirements, including fines or other sanctions.
Community Engagement
a. Public Awareness Campaigns: Launch campaigns to raise awareness about the benefits of food waste diversion and the importance of supporting local shelters and food pantries.
b. Volunteer Opportunities: Promote volunteer opportunities with non-profits involved in food rescue and composting efforts, encouraging community involvement and support.
