Network To End Hunger To End Hunger Launches New Program To Divert Food Surplus From Waste Stream

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Aug. 6, 2019 - PRLog -- Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger (TBNEH) launches "Creating a Regenerative Community Food System" program to help divert food surplus from the waste stream in Pinellas County, in partnership with Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. The program was developed to inspire community members to sustainably manage their food, in a more responsible and impactful way.

In order to prevent and divert wasted food from its associated impacts, multiple components of the program will address different layers of the Food Recovery Hierarchy, recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. The top levels of the hierarchy are the best ways to prevent and divert wasted food because they create the most benefits for the environment, society and the economy. In order of most preferred to least, the different levels of preventing food waste include: source reduction, redistribution (donating extra food to food banks, soup kitchens and shelters), feeding animals, and composting.

"We are excited to launch a program that is much needed in our community," said Caitlyn Peacock, Executive Director. "Our goal is to change the way our food surplus is integrated into the community food system, which ultimately supports our Network's mission of creating a sustainable, community-based food system to provide access to nutritious food for all."

Launched this month in Pinellas County, the program allows community members to collaborate by reducing food waste in the waste management system while improving their local communities. Through free educational classes and an easy to use food collection, donation and pickup system for excess food or scraps via the "Waste No Food" app, this program will help change food waste behaviors in our community.  Efforts will include increasing partnerships between local farms and non-profit agencies with food needs. This pilot program is presented in partnership with Pinellas Community Composting Alliance, Living Roots Eco Design, and Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.

Community members are invited to join one of the upcoming free workshops that will provide information and tools for diverting food from the waste system, including redistribution and composting. Attendees will learn how they can donate extra food to hungry community members and how easy the composting process can be. Visit www.networktoendhunger.org to check out upcoming workshop dates and locations.

Businesses, agencies or individuals interested in participating in the #WasteNoFood movement can sign up to be excess food or food waste donors (free buckets and lids for scrap collection available upon request) or recipients of the donations via the "Waste No Food" app.