It’s strange to think of food banks as generating food waste. After all, their goal is to take donated food that might otherwise land up in the trash and get it to hungry people in need. But sometimes the donations aren’t viable for use, the food expires, or items are otherwise unusable—and suddenly there’s a lot of food waste heading for the trash. Learn why food banks need a food waste recycling partner and how to find one that aligns with both the needs and ethics of your organization.
Aligned Policy: A Reduction in Food Waste
We’re also aligned when it comes to reducing food waste over recycling. At Agri-Cycle, we know the highest purpose of food is to feed hungry people, so we work with many of our partners on ways to reduce their food waste first, including advising them on ways to use these products in-house, donate to worthy causes, and change their best practices.
Agri-Cycle Partner Highlight: Good Shepherd Food Bank
The Good Shepherd Food Bank has contributed tons upon tons of food to Maine’s undernourished populations over the years and now has been working with Agri-Cycle for several years to divert its spoiled or damaged food products from the waste stream and into our food waste recycling facilities. Based in Auburn, Maine, they are well within our service area for our truck fleets and AD facilities—more on them later.
Clara Whitney, Good Shepherd’s Director of Public Affairs had this to say about working with Agri-Cycle:
“As a nonprofit organization, we have limited resources and are always looking for the most cost effective and efficient way to do our work. The professional team at Agri-Cycle worked with us to create an efficient pickup process that fits in with our busy schedule. By working with Agri-Cycle, we can dispose of non-edible products in a safe, cost-effective manner and save more of our resources for our mission of ending hunger in Maine.”
Learn more about our relationship with the Good Shepherd Food Bank on their Partner Profile page.
How Agri-Cycle Helps Food Banks
As mentioned above, we work with all our business partners to make it easy to dispose of food waste, freeing up not only staff but also funds. People who work with Agri-Cycle have their food waste simplified with our tote bin collection and transportation services. Not only does this mean less work for their staff, but also less money spent on removing it—with Agri-Cycle providing a greener, cost-saving alternative than waste hauling.
Want to learn more about the sustainability side of things? Learn about how we turn food waste into renewable biofuel energy and food for hungry cows.
It has been a privilege working with the Good Shepherd Food Bank—especially Sam Michaud and his team—and helping them to ensure that any food items that cannot be directed toward the hungry in Maine will at the very least be managed in a way that results in a healthier climate for all Mainers. If you’re interested in learning how we can help your food bank or related nonprofit make sure its food waste is handled the most ethical way possible, contact Agri-Cycle today.