Stacy Savage, the Founder and CEO of Zero Waste Strategies (ZWS), a Texas-based environmental consultancy, is dedicated to addressing a significant issue - the confusion surrounding food donation laws and the potential for food waste. Through her work, she aims to alleviate the fear of liability among food donors and redirect safe and surplus foods to those in need, thereby mitigating food waste.

Empowering Food Donation to Combat Food Waste

Understanding the Food Waste Crisis

In 2022, an astonishing 88.7 million tons of food went unsold or uneaten in the United States, with a staggering 32.6 million tons ending up in landfills. This wasted food represents a colossal loss of nutrients. As estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the uneaten food contains enough calories to feed over 150 million people annually, far exceeding the approximate 35 million food insecure Americans. This emphasizes the urgent need for effective strategies to reduce food waste.ZWS recognizes the gravity of the situation and is committed to making a difference. Their work involves conducting waste audits to analyze the functionality and efficiency of businesses' waste systems and providing tailored recommendations for improvement.

Stacy Savage's Journey and the Birth of ZWS

Stacy Savage first encountered the frustration of food waste while working as a food industry server in Austin. Seeing untouched food being thrown away while others struggled to eat was a painful experience for her. This led her to become an environmental activist.Driving home one evening, she realized the potential in the network of government officials, waste management companies, and environmental activists she had built. The next day, she launched ZWS with the mission to help businesses reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost waste.

ZWS' Services in Reducing Food Waste

ZWS offers primary services such as waste audits. During these audits, Savage and her team carefully examine businesses' garbage, recycling, and compost to generate detailed reports. They focus especially on food waste and provide creative solutions like color-coded compost bins and staff trainings to raise awareness about the impact of food waste.When food surplus is unavoidable, ZWS advocates for food donations. Food donation has gained popularity globally as a response to food waste and is ranked by the EPA as the next best strategy when food waste cannot be prevented.

Addressing the Fear of Legal Liability

Despite the protection offered by the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act since 1996, there remains a barrier to food donations due to the fear of legal liability. A survey by the Food Waste Reduction Alliance found that 67%, 61%, and 54% of manufacturers, restaurants, and retailers, respectively, were concerned about liability.To clarify and expand these protections, the Food Donation Improvement Act (FDIA) was signed into law in January 2023. It extends protection to a wider range of donors and makes it easier for businesses to donate food directly to those in need. However, some businesses still hesitate due to concerns about potential legal action and bad publicity. ZWS plays a crucial role in ensuring their clients understand the legal protections and advising them on safe donation practices.

The Benefits of Food Donations

Donating surplus foods provides businesses with several advantages. It offers an opportunity for positive promotional exposure and the possibility of earning a general federal tax deduction or, in some cases, an enhanced tax deduction.Savage emphasizes the simplicity of claiming a deduction but highlights the importance of good recordkeeping. ZWS helps clients track relevant information, including costs and the would-be sales price of donations, to ensure they receive the full deduction they are entitled to.For Savage, the highest and best use of food waste is diverting surplus food from landfills and giving it to hungry community members. It is about doing the right thing and making a positive impact.Articles like this one are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. We encourage you to join our growing movement by becoming a member today.Photo courtesy of Pawel Czerwinski, Unsplash