[OKRA] EPA is looking for Comments on a Draft Nation Strategy to Reduce Food Loss and Waste

[Ellen Bussert]

[image: image.png]
The US EPA is in the process of drafting a strategy to reduce food loss and
waste.  If you are interested in this topic, there are many links below
with information on this topic.   They are asking for comments by January
4, 2024.




[image: image.png]
Biden-Harris Administration Releases Draft National Strategy to Reduce Food
Loss and Waste

EPA, USDA, and FDA announce steps to reduce waste and increase recycling of
organics to reduce climate pollution, save families and businesses money,
and support a circular economy for all.

December 2, 2023
Contact Information
EPA Press Office (press at epa.gov)

WASHINGTON (Dec. 2, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) released the “Draft National Strategy for
Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics
<https://www.epa.gov/circulareconomy/draft-national-strategy-reducing-food-loss-and-waste-and-recycling-organics>”
as part of President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to tackle climate
change and promote a circular economy. The draft strategy outlines specific
EPA, USDA, and FDA actions to prevent the loss and waste of food and other
organic wastes, reducing associated environmental impacts such as methane
pollution, a potent contributor to climate change with 28 times more
warming potential than carbon dioxide. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan
announced this draft national strategy during the 28th Conference of the
Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates as one of the United States’
key deliverables. This strategy is also a deliverable in the Biden-Harris
Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
<https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/White-House-National-Strategy-on-Hunger-Nutrition-and-Health-FINAL.pdf>,
released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger,
Nutrition, and Health in September 2022.

“From day one, President Biden has been clear that tackling the climate
crisis requires a comprehensive and whole-of-government approach. The
release of this draft national strategy for food loss and waste is an
important step forward in this effort to protect people and the planet,” said
EPA Administrator Regan. “Reducing food loss and waste is one of the most
impactful actions we can take to reduce climate pollution and build a
circular economy. Working together with our partners at USDA and FDA, we
will take actions to significantly reduce waste and the pollution that
comes with it while improving our food system and boosting the economy.”

Recent EPA research
<https://www.epa.gov/land-research/food-waste-research> demonstrates
that while total emissions from municipal solid waste landfills are
decreasing, methane emissions from landfilled food waste are increasing,
and 58 percent of methane emissions released to the atmosphere from
landfills are from food waste. The draft strategy aims to prevent and
divert organic waste from landfills to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions and highlights opportunities, especially where communities have
been underserved and overburdened, to build community-scale organics
recycling infrastructure, reduce pollution, and create jobs.

The draft strategy drives progress toward the National Food Loss and Waste
Reduction Goal
<https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/united-states-2030-food-loss-and-waste-reduction-goal>
to
reduce the loss and waste of food by 50 percent by 2030. In addition, it
supports the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan
<https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/US-Methane-Emissions-Reduction-Action-Plan-1.pdf>.
Because methane is both a powerful GHG and short-lived compared to carbon
dioxide, achieving significant reductions would have a rapid and
significant effect on reducing GHG emissions.

The draft strategy features four objectives:

•  Objective 1: Prevent the loss of food where possible.

•  Objective 2: Prevent the waste of food where possible.

•  Objective 3: Increase the recycling rate for all organic waste.

•  Objective 4: Support policies that incentivize and encourage food loss
and waste prevention and organics recycling.

For each objective, the strategy highlights actions that EPA, FDA, or USDA
could take. Examples of specific EPA actions include:

•  Develop and lead a national campaign to teach consumers how reduce food
waste.

•  Test innovative approaches to reducing food waste across the supply
chain.

•  Support the development of additional organics recycling infrastructure
through grants and other assistance for all communities, and especially
those that are underserved.

•  Expand the market for products made from recycled organic waste.

Read the “Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and
Recycling Organics
<https://www.epa.gov/circulareconomy/draft-national-strategy-reducing-food-loss-and-waste-and-recycling-organics>
.”

EPA welcomes comments on the strategy
<https://www.epa.gov/circulareconomy/draft-national-strategy-reducing-food-loss-and-waste-and-recycling-organics>
for
30 days at Regulations.gov <https://www.regulations.gov/>, Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0415.

Background

In the U.S., more than one-third (nearly 100 million tons per year) of the
municipal waste stream is organic waste, of which food is the majority.
Wasting food impacts the climate, releases air pollutants, contributes to
water scarcity and biodiversity loss, and degrades soil and water quality.

•  1/3 of all available food goes uneaten. (USDA)

•  24% of municipal solid waste in landfills is food waste. (EPA)

•  Globally, food loss and waste represent 8 percent of anthropogenic GHG
emissions (4.4 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually). (UN)

•  58 percent of methane emissions released to the atmosphere from
municipal solid waste landfills is from food waste. (EPA)

•  In the U.S., the average family of four spends $1,500 each year on food
that ends up uneaten. (USDA)

In addition to the release of this draft national strategy, earlier this
year, EPA announced nearly $200 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
funding through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling program, as
well as Recycling Education and Outreach grants, which is the largest
federal investment in recycling in 30 years. Over $83 million of the new
funding will support projects that include organics recycling, composting,
or anaerobic digestion. The activities outlined in these projects are
critical in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Learn more about:

•  Sustainable management of food
<https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food>.

•  Food: material specific data
<https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/food-material-specific-data>
.

•  EPA’s work to promote a circular economy
<https://www.epa.gov/circulareconomy/what-circular-economy>.

•  USDA’s work to prevent food loss and waste
<https://www.usda.gov/foodlossandwaste>.

•  FDA’s work to prevent food loss and waste
<https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/food-loss-and-waste>.

•  Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Transforming U.S. Recycling and Waste
Management.
<https://www.epa.gov/infrastructure/bipartisan-infrastructure-law-transforming-us-recycling-and-waste-management>
Contact Us <https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/forms/contact-us> to ask a
question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
LAST UPDATED ON DECEMBER 2, 2023
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