Food Recovery Program

City of Los Angeles

Expand existing program

According to the California Food Policy Advocates, “Across California, 4.7 million adults and 2 million children live in low-income households affected by food insecurity. Food insecurity means having limited, uncertain, or inconsistent access to the quality and quantity of food that is necessary to live a healthy life. Having sustained access to enough food is tied to positive social, physical, and mental health outcomes.” Los Angeles is one of the largest concentrations of food-insecure populations - over 2 million Angelenos face food insecurity, translating to 1 out of 5 individuals in the county. The high costs of housing and transportation, coupled with a 20% poverty rate, have contributed to these hunger statistics. The implications are far-reaching: an increase in disease, adverse health, and growing medical costs. Our project provides a sustainable solution to hunger by tackling systemic inefficiencies in food waste through food donation, diversion, and conversion.

This project is important to the work of Global Green because it aligns with our mission, which includes creating green cities and businesses and improving livability. Global Green has been working in Los Angeles since we launched in 1994. It is a place where we love to work, and a place where we are known, trusted and connected. In addition to our long-term involvement, Global Green is uniquely suited to take on this food recovery program because through our pilot program, we are testing solutions to each of the barriers to urban food waste rescue so that the program can be scaled throughout the City of Los Angeles this next year and ultimately, replicated by many other communities.

Global Green's Food Recovery Program circularizes the urban food system and generates value from food waste to meet the needs of our underserved communities and populations. At least 5000 people will be fed by the food donated from the restaurants to the food banks, which will indirectly impact the population of Los Angeles due to the greenhouse gases (GHG) reduced by diverting food from the landfill. This program applies AB1826 and SB 1383, which require commercial establishments to divert food waste to composting and donation. This program contributes to the legislations' goals to reduce statewide GHG emissions below 2013 levels by 2030, reduce organics disposal by 50% by 2020, and recover 20% of edible food for human consumption by 2025.