Food Rescue Recognition Program
Food is a valuable resource and wasting edible and inedible food also wastes the water, energy, labor, pesticides, fertilizers, and land used to make and transport the food. When wasted food is put into the trash, it rots in the landfill or is burned and produces methane gas which negatively impacts air quality.
Food waste makes up 8% of overall garbage in Washington State and nationally 40% of all food produced is wasted. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that $218 billion are spent to grow food that is not eaten in the United States.
Donating food for those in need is a great way to keep edible food out of the garbage. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) estimates that 16% of Washington’s population struggle to put food on the table and one in six Washingtonians (1.15 million people) receive food from emergency food providers.
BE A PART OF THE FOOD WASTE SOLUTION
Food Establishments are being recognized for preventing pollution through best business practices and reducing institutional food waste by donating food resources.
Here’s what you can do:
- Donate food to hunger relief organizations.
- Donate food to farms for animals.
- Compost unusable food.
- Find creative ways to keep food out of the garbage.
Restaurants, caterers, hotels, grocers, wholesalers, farmers, and event centers can donate leftover food that would otherwise be discarded to any of the Hunger Relief Organizations listed below.
Feed Spokane | 509-216-7364 | feedspokane.org
Northwest Harvest | 509-891-7012 | northwestharvest.org
2nd Harvest | 509-534-6678 | 2-harvest.org
Salvation Army | 509-325-6810 | spokane.salvationarmy.org
Union Gospel Mission | 509-535-8510 | uniongospelmission.org
Women and Children’s Free Restaurant | 509-324-1995 | wctrspokane.org
Meals on Wheels | 509-456-6597 | mowspokane.org
