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 theinfrastructuretocreateandbuilda food
collection route to recover foodfromhotels, major studios,andotherCulverCity foodservice entities.Thefoodwillbeplacedonarefrigeratedtruckandtransporteddailytofoodpantriesoragenciesthat havetheabilitytoprovidethe foodtotheirparticipantsthroughouttheWest
LosAngelesregion. 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.