The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the University of California, Irvine special honors for its accomplishment of achieving zero waste status through its food recovery programs. The University’s waste recycling program diverts eighty three percent of total waste materials by reusing, recycling, and food composting. The university now diverts five hundred tons of food and organic matter waste. University officials credit the school’s involvement in the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge program as a major factor in obtaining the tools and resources it needed to make significant changes to its waste management program.

The improvement in food waste recycling came about through a collaborative effort between the University’s Facilities Management group, Orange County Waste Management, and Aramark Campus Dining Services who oversees all food and meal production for the school.

The EPA estimates that thirty five million tons of food is wasted every year and is the largest percentage of waste material that is sent to landfills. When unwanted and unusable food is sent to a landfill, the organic matter decomposes and contributes to the production of methane, a greenhouse gas. The Food Recovery Challenge encourages large producers of food waste – such as schools, and businesses and organization with on-site food production facilities, to reduce their contribution to greenhouse gasses – and save money on their regular trash disposal fees – by increasing efforts to prevents food waste by utilizing donation, composting, and anaerobic digestion programs.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Food is a terrible thing to waste, and putting your business’ food waste in the trash is wasting your money! If food and organic waste is a significant part of your weekly disposal, it’s time to start looking into “green” friendly alternatives.