April is Earth Month! Each year, Earth Month reminds us of our collective responsibility to care for our planet not only during the month of April, but year-round. One of the most impactful ways we can protect the planet is by reducing food waste. Each year, nearly 40% of food in the U.S. goes to waste (Feeding America, n.d.).
At Community Action House, our Lakeshore Food Rescue program is working to change that—because good food belongs with people, not in landfills. By rescuing surplus food and redistributing it to those who need it, we’re fighting hunger and protecting our environment from the harmful effects of food waste.
Why does food get wasted in the first place?
Food retailers have regulations and customer preferences they have to keep in mind. Food is often sent to us to rescue due to appearance, labeling, or surplus– reasons that have nothing to do with the safety of the food, which means it can be redirected to families!
The label is slightly crooked. A yogurt cup with a misaligned label is just as fresh and safe as one with a perfect label, but strict packaging standards mean it may not be sold.
The expiration date on the item doesn’t match the label. A carton could have the correct date stamped on the bottle, but if the outer packaging says something different, it can’t be sold.
Goods are close to their “best by” date. Best by dates communicate peak quality, not safety (United States Department of Agriculture, 2023) - so even if a product is still perfectly safe, if it’s close to the “best by” date, retailers may not keep them on shelves because they know customers are in the habit of not choosing them.
The product doesn’t look how it’s “supposed” to. A lopsided carrot or a smaller-than-average apple may not be selected for grocery store shelves, even though it’s perfectly fresh.
There’s extra! Sometimes farmers grow more than they can sell, or retailers over-purchase, leading to surplus food that would otherwise go to waste.
Instead of letting good food go to waste, our generous Food Donor partners do the right thing. They help us turn excess food into food access by donating perfectly safe, perfectly healthy food to Lakeshore Food Rescue, that would otherwise go to waste!
What happens to the food Lakeshore Food Rescue receives?
When a Food Donor lets us know they have food they’d like to donate, we send one of our dedicated Lakeshore Food Rescue volunteers, or a refrigerated truck to pick up the donation, depending on the size and type.
Once the food arrives at Action House, our team carefully sorts and distributes it. Products that meet our quality and safety standards directly support our Food Club, and supply over 60 nonprofit partners with food that gives our neighbors access to the nourishment they need to thrive.
What happens to rescued food that can’t be used?
Our commitment to sustainability doesn’t stop at rescuing food and getting it onto our neighbor’s tables. Not all rescued food can be used for human consumption, but we are committed to diverting food through the most preferred pathways for managing wasted food, offering the most benefit to the environment (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2024).
Food that can’t be distributed is composted by our friends at Eighth Day Farm, where it breaks down into nutrient-rich soil. This process restores nutrients to the soil–improving soil health–and supports local farms, creating a more sustainable food system.
On-site, we remove packaging from products that allow us to recycle the container. Additionally, we partner with Perfect Circle Recycling to depackage other recyclable-packaged products and repurpose excess food into animal feed.
Once the excess food is processed into animal feed, we distribute it to our network of livestock farmers, ensuring that it doesn’t go to waste.
By recycling, repurposing, and composting, we keep food out of landfills, cut methane emissions, and conserve millions of gallons of water—building a healthier, more sustainable planet for everyone.
Through Lakeshore Food Rescue, in 2024 we:
Rescued 3.7 million pounds of food!
Prevented 5,825.89 metric tons of CO2eq emissions - Equivalent to 1,388 passenger vehicles driven for one year!
Saved 236.81 million gallons of water - Equivalent to 359 olympic swimming pools!
Become a Food Rescue Hero!
Volunteer with Lakeshore Food Rescue! Sign up for food rescue routes whenever it’s convenient for you, and volunteer on your schedule!
Reduce food waste at home by being mindful of expiration dates, composting, and buying only what you need.
Donate to our Resale Store! Reduce waste beyond just food–turn your gently used items into funding for programs that nourish, equip, and empower our neighbors!
Every pound of food rescued is a step toward a healthier planet and a stronger community!
References
Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Wasted Food Scale.
https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/wasted-food-scale
Feeding America. (n.d.). Fighting food waste and hunger through food rescue. feedingamerica.org/ourwork/reducefoodwaste#:~:text=Food%20waste%20statistics%20in%20the,all%20the%20food%20in%20America
United States Department of Agriculture. (2023). Food Product Dating.
