Problem

The United Nations estimate that Americans today throw away 400 lbs of food each year, thereby wasting the resources used to create it including fuel, materials, labor and other natural resources.

Solution

We’ve organized a system to gather leftover food from restaurants and deliver it into a locked fridge outside of food banks. The food banks will distribute food to those in need, such as parents or our starving youth.  

Action

This system reduces the amount of food wasted, feeds those in need, and reduces the amount of emissions put forth into the atmosphere. The food banks are also able to weigh and measure the amount of food donated.

Our Food Rescue Plan

1-Year Goal

Reduce the amount of food wasted in restaurants by over 50%.

1. 917,280‬ lbs of waste diverted from landfills through composting per year.
2. 352,800‬ lbs of edible food rescued and donated to food banks per year.
3. 294,000‬ meals delivered to food insecure residents of Los Angeles per year.
4. 12,776 MTCO2e in greenhouse gas reductions per year.

3-Year Goal

Implement our food waste program in cities around California.

1. ‭3,669,120‬ lbs of waste diverted from landfill through composting per year.
2. 1,411,200‬ lbs of edible food rescued and donated to food banks per year.
3. 1,176,000‬ meals delivered to food insecure residents of 4 major cities per year.
4. 51,104‬ MTCO2e in greenhouse gas reductions per year.

5-Year Goal

Celebrate the food rescue program across the nation.

1. ‭9,172,800‬‬ lbs of waste diverted from landfill through composting per year.
2. 3,528,000‬‬ lbs of edible food rescued and donated to food banks per year.
3. ‭2,940,000‬‬ meals delivered to food insecure residents of Los Angeles per year.
4. 127,760 MTCO2e in greenhouse gas reductions per year.

10-Year Goal

Share and develop the food waste program across 26 countries.

1. 33,022,080‬ lbs of waste diverted from landfill through composting per year.
2. ‭12,700,800‬ lbs of edible food rescued and donated to food banks per year.
3. 10,584,000‬ meals delivered to food insecure residents of Los Angeles per year.
4. 459,936‬ MTCO2e in greenhouse gas reductions per year.

WHAT WE’VE ACHIEVED SO FAR

Food Saved Through Partnerships

An estimated 214,000 lbs of organic waste was diverted from landfill over the course of 5 months through the collaboration of Global Green and its partners.  California laws dictate that businesses producing at least 4 cubic yards of waste per week must separate their organic waste to be composted, and donate edible food to non-profit food banks. 

Businesses without a diversion system will begin facing fines early next year.  Global Green’s comprehensive training program provided guidance for restaurants to stay compliant with these laws while creating the framework for a redesigned food system in Los Angeles.