News Release from Lane Co. Government
Posted on FlashAlert: June 29th, 2023 8:30 AM
WasteWise Lane County—part of the Lane County Waste Management Division—recently hired an Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps Fellow to kick off a new commercial food waste reduction effort in Springfield.
This initiative will be the County’s first dedicated outreach in Springfield to large food businesses to promote food donation, food scrap collection, and provide technical assistance.
“Commercial food waste prevention is one of those issues that can truly enhance the ‘triple bottom line’ for food businesses, such as grocery stores and restaurants,” said Lane County Waste Reduction Specialist Maya Buelow. “It’s good for business profits because food waste prevention can save organizations lots of money; it’s good for people because significant quantities of food can be diverted to community members in need; and it’s good for the planet because it can minimize food in landfills, helping to reduce greenhouse gases. A true win-win-win.”
This fellowship—which will run until early August—will help Lane County measure commercial food waste in Springfield and better understand concerns or barriers that large food waste generators have when donating or composting their wasted food. This commercial outreach effort closely follows the Sanipac policy introduced last year to accept food waste in Springfield residential yard waste bins.
The newly hired EDF Climate Corps Fellow is Tatum Flowers, a graduate student at the University of South Florida. Tatum will lead outreach efforts, provide information and technical assistance, as well as conduct site visits to interested organizations. Springfield food businesses can reach Tatum at [email protected].
Fast Facts
- $149 billion worth of food in the U.S. never gets eaten or sold
- Restaurants can save roughly $8 for every $1 invested in food waste prevention
About WasteWise Lane County
WasteWise Lane County offers education, tools, and resources that residents, schools, and businesses can use to reduce waste, conserve resources and live more sustainably. Follow WasteWise Lane County on Facebook and Instagram.
About the Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps
EDF Climate Corps is a unique summer fellowship program where EDF trains and matches top-tier graduate students with host companies and organizations to advance environmental and sustainability goals. Learn more at edf.org/approach/edf-climate-corps-making-sustainability-work
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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