RecyclingWorks presented on Food Donation Guidance for Massachusetts businesses at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Northeast Region Annual Food Protection Seminar. The seminar was held on August 12 at Hotel Northampton and hosted by the MA Department of Public Health (MA DPH). This presentation continued to engage public health officials in this initiative to capture surplus, wholesome food for donation.

The MA DPH and local Boards of Health in Massachusetts were instrumental in developing RecyclingWorks’ Food Donation Guidance and many are seeing positive impacts from their engagement as they work in their communities.  For example, RecyclingWorks recently partnered with the Marlborough Board of Health to present to food-service businesses in Marlborough about food donation and other waste reduction strategies. This guidance was developed through stakeholder meetings across Massachusetts with representatives from EPA Region 1, the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic (HFLPC), food banks and food rescue organizations, and state and local health officials. A draft of these guidelines was sent out for stakeholder review and finalized in the fall of 2015. In June, RecyclingWorks connected with the FDA at the HFLPC’s Save Food for People Conference and learned that changes in the Food Code at the federal level would enable states to more effectively adapt these amendments into their own Food Code adoption process.

Food Donation is the highest level of use for wasted food in the EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy and can be very effective when done in a safe manner. Local boards of health can contact RecyclingWorks for assistance with increasing capture of surplus food to help address food insecurity in their communities.

RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts assists businesses and institutions with recycling and food waste reduction through composting and food donation. To speak to a recycling expert, call our hotline: (888) 254-5525 or email us at info@recyclingworksma.com.