Three area colleges join federal food waste project

The University of Iowa, Coe College and Luther College are joining the Environmental Protection Agency's Food Recovery Challenge, which asks institutions to reduce food waste through leaner purchasing and diverting food waste from the landfill.

The three schools are among nine new collegiate members in EPA Region 7, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and nine tribal nations. The University of Northern Iowa already is a Challenge member.

'From when food is produced to when it's consumed, 40 percent ends up wasted,” said Jim Callier, manager of the EPA's sustainable materials management program. 'A high percentage of that goes to landfills.”

Meanwhile, one in five children goes hungry, he said.

The EPA invited colleges and universities across the region to join the Recovery Challenge and UI, Luther and Coe signed on. The EPA asked the schools to consider a 5 percent improvement in one area, such as reducing surplus purchasing, Callier said.

The EPA will host webinars, share ideas for reducing waste and promote networking among Recovery Challenge members, which include 11 other colleges and universities and several professional sports teams.

Iowa schools will have their own success stories to share. The UI Hospitals and Clinics reduced food waste by 40 percent in 2013 by eliminating less-popular menu items and cutting surplus servings. The hospital donated more food to organizations that feed the hungry and composted 77 tons of food waste - up from zero in 2012.

Coe, which also composts food waste, eliminated trays in the dining hall in 2009 to help diners take only the food they expect to eat.