Up to 40 percent of food in the United States is wasted, contributing to extensive environmental, economic, and societal impacts. But solutions to the enormous challenge of food waste can create equally extensive benefits, particularly at the local level.

By reducing the amount of food that is thrown out, cities can stabilize their waste management costs and make progress toward climate and sustainability goals. By rescuing surplus food, municipalities can address food gaps in local communities. And by recycling food scraps, cities can minimize what goes into landfills and incinerators.

Through the Food Matters grant program, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) will provide extensive technical assistance along with a small amount of funding to support a cohort of 5 cities in the Southeast.

The Food Matters 2020 Southeast Cohort consists of: Memphis, Nashville, Ashville, Atlanta, and Orlando.

This grant will help the city increase awareness around food waste prevention to residents, tourists, city employees, and students and to businesses and facilities via food waste audits. Organics collection in the city will increase and there may be a chance to work with local health inspectors to incorporate more training on food waste and donation.

The term of this agreement will be until June 2021.