New pilot project coming to Calgary will reduce food from businesses going to landfill

A new pilot project to reduce the amount of food waste that businesses send to the landfill is coming to Calgary.

The food rescue and food waste diversion project will runfor six months and targets businesses and industry,including restaurants, hotels, hospitals andsupermarkets.

The project will see more food wastebeing composted and food that is still ediblediverted to local organizationsthrough the charity,LeftoversFoundation.

The pilot isbeing run and funded by the Ontario-based Circular Innovation Council through grants and sponsorships. The organizationhas alreadybeen running aninternationally recognized pilot in Guelph-Wellington Countyin southwestern Ontario.

"It's really important to the city because it's looking to consolidate food waste collection services among neighbouring businesses with the goal to make collection more efficient and affordable for those businesses," saidKayley Fesko, a waste diversion specialist with the City of Calgary.

"The goal is to have neighbouring businesses all working collaboratively and cooperatively to manage their food waste collection services."

Fesko saida 2019 study carried out by the cityfound food waste made up 43 per centof commercial garbage bin waste in Calgary.

"There's so much food still being thrown in the garbage, I think there's a great opportunity for us to redistribute food to local organizations and divert food from the landfill," Fesko said.

Fesko saidthe pilot also fits inwith the city'sclimate change goals, avoiding large amounts offood being buried.

The Circular Innovation Council says food waste is one of the leading causes of the climate crisis globally and a big part of the program isaddressing that.

"When food waste is disposed of in landfill, it creates methane, a greenhouse gas, and reducing waste is one of the leading solutions to meeting our climate goals," saidpilot project managerKatie Motta.

"We're trying to fill a gap to provide services to businesses, industries and institutions that don't have affordable options for organic waste diversion."

Motta saidthey'll work with businesses and collection companies with the goal of sending one truck to as many neighbouring businesses as possible, bringing betterefficiency,affordability and accessibility.

Leftovers Foundationwill ensure any edible food is rescued and donated to local community agencies.

"That also helps address food insecurity in the city," said Motta. "The businesses are amazed at how easy it was to get staff on board and they're really excited about seeing their food not go to waste."

The Calgaryproject is due to start early this year.

If it goes well,the city says it could become a longer-term,commercially viable program.