Navigating the world of sustainability in small business, education, and everyday life? We get it, it’s not easy being green. Sit in on the powerful conversations with the trailblazers who are walking the sustainable walk. Each episode packs inspirational ideas that will drive your passion for creating a better world for you and the people you love.
Let’s talk about Waste Not
In our 4th episode of The Green Scene season 2, Waste Not | Serving Up Solutions for Zero Hunger and Zero Waste, we sit down with Hillary Bryant, Executive Director of the food waste recovery non-profit Waste Not. The organization collects prepared and perishable food from events and gives them to over 80 community partners to feed people in need.
Over 40% of our food is wasted, and in Arizona, over 1 million people struggle with food insecurity. Waste Not is tackling both feeding hungry people and food waste at the same time! Their mission is to support Sustainable Development Goals: including SDG 4: Zero Hunger, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption, and SDG 13: Climate Action. This past year, Waste Not has rescued millions of pounds of food from events like Super Bowl LVII, the Waste Management Open, and many others!
Reimagining food rescue isn’t an easy task. Waste Not has been working in the community for over 30 years. Through complex strategy and coordination, the Waste Not team picks up large quantity donations from grocery stores, restaurants, and events with refrigerated trucks. The organization has also partnered with Feeding America to use the volunteer-based program Meal Connect. Meal Connect is an app where smaller volume food donors can request food rescue pick up on demand.
Listen to the full episode to hear Bryant tell exciting tales of working with big event partners (like Super Bowl LVII), reveal the positive impact of Waste Not’s work, and explain the important intricacies of building relationships with community partners.