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Federal Green Challenge

FGC Webinar: Federal Food Recovery Opportunities to help meet EO objectives

Federal Food Recovery Opportunities and Planning to Meet EO13693 Objectives: 09/24/2015

This webinar was on Federal Food Recovery Opportunities as they related to Executive Order (EO) 13693, which was revoked and replaced by President Trump’s EO 13834 Regarding Efficient Government Operations.

Executive Order 13693, Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade, issued in March 2015, called on federal agencies to maintain leadership in sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A key element of the order is to "advance waste prevention and pollution prevention by . . . diverting at least 50 percent of non-hazardous solid waste, including food and compostable material." Notably, wasted food constitutes the largest quantity of divertible material sent to landfills. Of the estimated 34 million tons thrown out, only 2.5 percent is diverted. Wasted food is estimated at 30-40% of the food supply and is the third largest source of methane gas, one of the most potent greenhouse gases responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere.

"Food recovery," which includes practices such as the purchase of less food, donation of edible food and composting, can significantly reduce waste to landfills. This webinar outlines why federal food purchasing matters and how to include food recovery into strategic planning and food service contracts and leases. It also features an example of how a federal and concessioner partnership successfully contributed to food recovery.

Darby Hoover, Senior Resource Specialist, and JoAnne Berkenkamp, Senior Advocate, Food and Agriculture Program, Natural Resources Defense Council, outline a five-point plan to help federal agencies strengthen business practices and identify high priority waste reduction strategies associated with food services.

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