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EPA Announces Regional Food Recovery Challenge Awards on America Recycles Day

Release Date: 11/15/2012
Contact Information: Joshua Singer, 312-353-5069, [email protected]

(CHICAGO – Nov. 15, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes regional office is marking America Recycles Day with the announcement of six Food Recovery Challenge Achievement Awards. Through the Food Recovery Challenge, EPA encourages organizations to donate food and recycle food scraps to reduce waste, feed the needy and save money.

"These sports stadiums and universities -- in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio -- have prevented more than 350 tons of food scraps from entering landfills," said Regional Administrator Susan Hedman. "Food Recovery Challenge Achievement Award winners are using food to feed people, not landfills."

Food disposed of in landfills rapidly decomposes and becomes a significant source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The following Recovery Challenge Achievement Award winners are being recognized for significantly cutting food waste below previous years’ levels:

· Minnesota Twins Baseball Club – Target Field, Minneapolis, Minn.
· Saint Paul River Centre/Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn.
· City of Eagan Event Center, Eagan, Minn.
· Village of Rosemont – Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Ill.
· Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
· Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio

For more information about the Food Recovery Challenge: www.epa.gov/foodrecoverychallenge.