Vermont Business Magazine. The facts on wasted food are staggering—Americans generated 37 million tons of food waste in 2013 alone, with only five percent diverted from landfills and incinerators for composting, according to US Environmental Protection Agency. EPA’s cost estimate of this waste is about $165 billion a year.
Reducing, donating, and diverting wasted food offers multiple benefits for business, including savings from reduced commodities purchased and potential disposal cost reductions. Businesses receive recognition for their environmental action, potential access to tax credits through donation of wholesome food, along with additional community and social benefits through donation.
Businesses around Vermont are already realizing the benefits of reducing wasted food and composting. If you are Vermont business that has risen to the challenge of reducing food waste, you are invited to participate in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Challenge and the Vermont Green Business Program. Both programs are free.
Successful Challenge participants can receive positive recognition through awards and social media. Vermont Green Business participants may use the program logo on their company website and other promotion, are listed on the Green Business program website, receive door/window decals and a signed certificate by the VTDEC Commissioner, and benefit from state-wide marketing as a Vermont Green Business.
Working with a grant from EPA, the Northeast Recycling Council in Brattleboro, Vermont, can provide free technical assistance to businesses wanting to join the Food Recovery Challenge. Contact Athena Lee Bradley at 802-254-3636 or by email at [email protected]. To receive assistance in joining the Green Business Program, contact Peter Crawford at [email protected] or 802-728-1423.
More about the U.S. EPA Food Recovery Challenge
Food Recovery Challenge participants are asked to take three simple steps: conduct an assessment of their current practices, set a goal for reducing the amount of food waste being thrown out, and commit to a more sustainable approach by tracking their efforts. Through this free program, participants receive technical assistance to help implement wasted food reduction, recovery, and diversion programs. A data management system helps participants assess the costs and benefits of the program, and successful participants can receive positive recognition through awards and social media. More information on EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge: http://www2.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food
More about Vermont Green Business Program
Vermont businesses meeting the program standards found at www.vbep.org, are designated as Green Business or Environmental Leader, Green Hotel, Green Restaurant, Clean Marina, or Green Links golf course, and are recognized for going beyond compliance with existing environmental regulations, using resource conservation strategies and the implementation of environmental best management practices.
For more information contact Peter Crawford at [email protected] or 802-728-1423.
About the Northeast Recycling Council
NERC is a non-profit organization that conducts research, hands-on projects, training, and outreach on issues associated with source reduction, recycling, composting, environmentally preferable purchasing, and decreasing the toxicity of the solid waste stream. Connect with NERC at www.nerc.org. For more information about joining the Food Recovery Challenge or for assistance in reducing wasted food and composting, contact Athena Lee Bradley at 802-254-3636 or by email at [email protected].