The City of Culver City Receives Grant for
New Food Rescue Program!

The City of Culver City has been awarded nearly $500,000 in grant funding from the CalRecycle Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) for the City’s Food Rescue program. The City’s Environmental Programs and Operations Division staff will implement an innovative, proven approach to diverting food waste from the landfill to feed hungry people.

“The many benefits of this program include delivering good usable food to people who need it, creating job opportunities, potentially reducing the charges businesses may pay in disposal costs, and decreasing costs associated with long haul transportation to landfills or other waste-processing facilities. This is a win-win for all involved, and it feels good to be part of the solution to food scarcity,” said Culver City Mayor Jeffrey Cooper.

The City has the infrastructure to create and build a food collection route to recover food from hotels, major studios, and other Culver City food service entities. The food will be placed on a refrigerated truck and transported daily to food pantries or agencies that have the ability to provide the food to their participants throughout the West Los Angeles region. Local food pantries will benefit, as will the many families who rely on these organizations to supplement their food needs.

The City of Culver City is modeling its food rescue program after the successful Waste Not OC coalition’s efforts.  Waste Not OC is a public-private partnership formed with the goals of eliminating hunger and reducing food waste by facilitating the donation of wholesome surplus food from permitted food facilities to local pantries.  Culver City has incorporated Waste Not OC’s key concepts and ideas in its strategy and is looking forward to implementing this program.

About the CalRecycle Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF)

The GGRF was established in 2012 to receive Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds appropriated by the Legislature and Governor for projects that support the goals of AB 32.  One of the priorities is to realize environmental and economic benefits in disadvantaged communities.  Eligible investments identified in the statute include reducing greenhouse gas emissions through increased in-state diversion of municipal solid waste from disposal through waste reduction, diversion, and reuse. Grants are targeted to build or expand organics infrastructure, such as composting and anaerobic digestion, or rescuing food to feed hungry people.

With the CalRecycle Funding for Fiscal Year 2017-18, Culver City will be creating a powerhouse program like Waste Not OC.  Food service businesses that would like to be food donors may contact Catherine Vargas, Environmental Coordinator, at catherine.vargas@culvercity.org or by phone (310) 253-6414.

About Culver City

Culver City is a five-square-mile, urban community of 39,000 residents surrounded mostly by the City of Los Angeles but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. It is centrally located on the Westside near Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles International Airport.  Culver City is particularly known for its well-run public school system, "small town" charm, growing high-tech and creative economies, and a dynamic downtown that is regionally known as a destination for restaurants, live theatre, and art galleries. 

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