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EPA Food Recovery How-to Workshop for Grocery, Retail, Food Bank, Composting and Government Agencies Staff

Release Date: 11/29/2011
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / [email protected]

PHILADELPHIA (November 29, 2011) -- On November 30, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance will hold a Food Recovery Workshop at the Capital Union Building on Penn State University's Harrisburg Campus. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

Surplus food is second only to paper in materials sent to landfills. Much of this “waste” is not waste at all, but actually safe, wholesome food that could potentially feed millions of Americans. Only three percent is currently being diverted to hunger relief organizations or for other uses. EPA will showcase the agency's Food Recovery Challenge, a sustainable materials management initiative, which challenges participants to reduce disposal of as much of their surplus food as possible — saving money, helping communities, and protecting the environment.

The daylong workshop will provide information on how to increase the amount of consumable surplus foods provided to food banks and non-consumables food to composters. Professionals in the grocery, retail, food bank, composting, and associated government agencies are encouraged to attend. This workshop will include sessions on best practices with respect to managing surplus food and updates on regional and national food recovery trends.

Featured speakers include representatives from the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center, Feeding America, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, food bank associations, grocers, and EPA.

EPA is providing funding and technical support for the workshop. The registration fee is $30.00 but scholarships may be available if needed. For more information on scholarships, contact Linda Knapp at: [email protected].

To register go to: http://surplusfoodrecovery.eventbrite.com. For directions to the Capital Union Building which is located at the corner of College Avenue and O Street on the Penn State Harrisburg Campus, go to: http://hbg.psu.edu/visitors/directions.php

To learn more about the EPA's Food Recovery Challenge go to: https://www.epa.gov/wastes/partnerships/wastewise/challenge/foodrecovery/index.htm