Luther College is a new member of EPA's Food Recovery Challenge

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that Luther College is one of nine colleges named new members of EPA's "Food Recovery Challenge," a national initiative aimed at encouraging businesses, organizations and institutions to actively participate in food waste prevention, surplus food donation and food waste recycling activities.

"EPA applauds this year's new members for demonstrating how higher education institutions, large and small, can lead the way to reducing wasted food, saving energy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions," said EPA regional administrator Karl Brooks. "Food today makes up 21 percent of Americans' trash, so by participating in the FRC these colleges and universities gain access to tools and assistance they will use to cut food waste, save money, help communities and protect the environment."

The initiative encourages organizations to find better alternatives to throwing food away. It helps organizations learn to practice leaner purchasing and divert surplus food away from landfills to hunger-relief organizations and onto the tables of those in need in the community. It also diverts food scraps, suitable for composting or animal consumption, to composting or animal feed.