With Atlanta's rich history in food waste reduction, donation and recycling via the Zero Waste Zones 2009 launch and the numerous food donation programs, the EPA Region IV FRC launch within the hospitality sector is synergistic with well-established systems. Modeled after the EPA's Food Recovery Hierarchy, the FRC is a voluntary program. Participants pledge to provide a food waste baseline along with annual goals to prevent food waste, donate wasted food and | or recycle food scraps in a state-permitted non-landfill destination.
In addition, the FRC serves as a food waste tracking tool with report compilation modules. Information entered into the EPA system is proprietary in nature; the EPA only shares metrics in the aggregate.
For Atlanta's heroes, the FRC is a recognition program for a job well done as well as an opportunity to share their experiences with fellow operators. The ZWA Blog articles, Atlanta's Focus on Food Waste Reduction and Food Waste, the business perspective, highlights Atlanta's food waste heroes and successful programs.
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| Paula Owens with Ted's Montana Grill & Kim Charick |
Over the pursuing weeks, Ei founder Holly Elmore and EPA environmental scientist Kim Charick embarked on a meeting | call marathon recruiting FRC Program Participants and Endorsers. It was fun reconnecting with the early zero waste pioneers. Eager to join, the pioneers receive recognition for their impressive food waste practices and serve as role models for those new to donation and food waste collection programs. The Ei FB album, EPA Food Recovery Challenge, is a pictorial recap of the meetings.
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| Jon Johnston @ podium presenting on the FRC |
Kudos to the following FRC Participants who said YES to joining the important program and taking a powerful stand on reducing food waste | donating waste food | recycling food scraps:
- Affairs to Remember
- Fifth Group Restaurants - Alma Cocina , Ecco , El Taco, La Tavola , Lure, South City Kitchen Midtown, South City Kitchen Vinings, and Bold AmericanEvents
- Georgia Dome
- Georgia World Congress Center
- HMSHost Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- HMSHost Concord Mills
- HMSHost Tampa International Airport
- Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute - Atlanta
- Ted's Montana Grill - 13 Atlanta locations
In addition, the following organizations pledged their FRC support as Endorsers:
... and the recruiting continues! Future blog articles will document new FRC Participants along with metrics on reduced food waste, donated wasted food | recycled food scraps. Stay tuned!
Thanks for the acknowledgment, Holly. As a part of the Food Recovery Challenge, we were required to do some metrics on what we donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank last year - over 7 tons of prepared food. That's the equivalent of feeding 3 meals to 8 or 9 people every day of the year. Of course, we want to be able to have less leftover food, but it's comforting to know that our "overruns" result in taking a chunk out of our local chronic hunger issues.
ReplyDeleteWOW - Patrick, thank you for sharing Affairs To Remember impressive donation stats. As a former caterer, I understand excess food is often a by-product of catering an event. It is is comforting to know so many hungry folks received delicious meals thanks to ATR taking the effort to donate food in accordance to the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.
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