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A resolution supporting municipal leadership on food waste reduction and encouraging a Metropolitan Government and community-wide target of a 50% reduction in food waste from 2017 levels by 2030.
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WHEREAS, it is estimated that as much as 40% of the food supply in the United States goes uneaten and more than two-thirds of wasted food is sent to landfills and incinerators, where it typically represents the largest component of disposed waste; and
WHEREAS, food waste disposed of in landfills emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change; and
WHEREAS, the natural resources used to produce food, such as water, also are wasted when food is wasted; and
WHEREAS, more than 10% of adults and children in Davidson County, approximately 73,360 individuals, are food insecure, lacking a reliable source of food to support a healthy and active lifestyle, according to 2021 data published by Feeding America; and
WHEREAS, the amount of food wasted in the United States is worth approximately $444 billion per year; and
WHEREAS, reducing food waste and diverting it from landfills mitigates climate change, conserves natural resources, provides food to individuals experiencing food insecurity, saves money, extends the useful life of landfills, and produces beneficial products such as soil amendment; and
WHEREAS, the Nashville and the Middle Tennessee region will continue to face significant challenges related to solid waste management, including local landfills expected to reach capacity in three to five years; and
WHEREAS, in December 2019, Nashville's Solid Waste Region Board approved a Zero Waste Master Plan ("the Plan") which provides a policy framework to lead the region in reducing waste to landfill by 90%. The Plan included analysis of multiple strategies for waste reduction, including diversion of organics from the landfill. The Plan was then adopted by Metro Council in August 2021 pursuant to Resolution No. RS2021-1030; and
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